Europe & Middle East Outlook - Issue 27 by Outlook Publishing

EME

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ISSUE 27

Self-confessed beer geek Erik d’Auchamp on spearheading Mahou San Miguel’s international growth

BUSINESS TRAVEL GUIDE 22

Astana: Kazakhstan’s new capital

BAUR FORMSCHAUMTECHNIK S.R.O 38

ETMAM LOGISTICS 54 Saudi Arabia’s 3PL standard setter

QUALITY ARCHITECTURAL SYSTEMS 64

Investing in plants, people and progress

ALSO FEATURING: A U T O

F A S T E N E R S

A tight-knit family of architectural experts

B B C

D U M A G A S

Business Travel Guides

A complete guide to EME’s leading business travel destinations

A S T A N A

ASTANA

Kazakhstan’s new capital Building on the back of the grand successes of EXPO 2017, Astana is looking to make further strides on the global stage Writer: Jonathan Dyble | Project Manager: Joe Palliser

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ASTANA, BY BOTH name and history, is a relatively young city. Granted town status in 1832, it has risen to lofty heights in the 186 years since, standing as a fine example of a planned city. Having been named Astana and made the capital of Kazakhstan by 1998, Astana is now home to more than 1,000,000 people – testament to the

effective execution of the Astana Master Plan, led by famed Japanese architect Kisho Kurokawa and aided by other leading names such as Norman Foster. Now known as the ‘Singapore of the Steppes’, the modern metropolis features some of Western Asia’s most impressive architectural wonders and sculptural masterpieces, most evidently reflected by the Baiterek Tower – a 97-metre-tall symbol for the city as the national capital. Visiting Astana, it is hard not to be in awe of what the Master Plan has achieved in the past 21 years, not only from looking at some of these towering structures, but also through its transport networks and commercial success. With an estimated population density of 1,300 people per square kilometre, the city is a far cry from the rest of the country that comparatively has just 6.75 people per square kilometre, with the arid Steppes making up the majority of the world’s ninth largest country.

EME FACTS & FIGURES

Languages: Area: Population (2013): Currency: Time zone: Dialling code: Internet TLD: Climate: Highest recorded temperature:

Kazakh, Russian 722 km² 814,435 Kazakhstani tenge GMT+6 +7 .kz continental 41.6°C

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22 See page

Our Business Travel section not only gives executives the complete guide to the world’s most popular and populous locations, but also gives said locations the perfect opportunity to showcase their own businesses, events, venues and services to a truly international audience and readership of more than 395,000 each month. To share in this unrivalled exposure and to put your own offering on our map, then please contact our Sales Managers; Joe Palliser, Ryan Gray or Jordan Levey to find out more.

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W E L C O M E Beer = big money

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The past five years has seen an explosion in the variety of beer produced around the world. From IPAs and weissbier to pilsners and porters, beer lovers have more choice in front of them at supermarkets and bars than ever before. The diversification of the sector has forced established brewhouses to up their games, both in terms of expanding their own offering and promoting the staple brands that have been used to commanding large market shares for years. Mahou San Miguel falls into this category. Both its Mahou and San Miguel brands are home favourites in Spain, with the latter particularly popular in other parts of Europe, especially the UK. Erik d’Auchamp is responsible for the success of the €1.26 billion brewer’s international export business. A self-confessed beer geek, we talked at length about the broadening out of the beer category and how Mahou San Miguel is adapting its own portfolio to compete in such a busy market. “It has become far more accessible and sophisticated,” he says. “Some of the barrel-aged products we are seeing currently I didn’t think were possible two decades ago. In some cases beer is competing with spirits, offering flavours that remind you of the drinks that used to be made in those barrels, like rum or whisky.” Media is another industry undergoing constant, rapid change. Jonathan Dyble caught up Cyrus Saihan, Head of Digital Partnerships for the BBC, about the organisation’s latest speed reading experiment which could redefine the way it presents content to consumers. In the automotive supply chain sphere, we get the inside track on two businesses proving their worth to several of the large OEMs – Baur Formschaumtechnik s.r.o and UK-based Auto Fasteners, a company set up from scratch by its founder and current boss Scott Simpson. A story of perseverance, Simpson reveals how he has gone from storing product deliveries in his wardrobe to a fully professional warehouse setup. Other exclusive insights this issue include interviews with Romanian haulier Dumagas, Saudi Arabia’s Etmam Logistics, the UAE’s Quality Architectural Systems and global design giant DP Façade. Lanny Cohen, Chief Innovation Officer at French consulting firm Capgemini, is the first of our new Expert Eye columnists, discussing how enterprise can make the most of augmented and virtual reality, while our business travel section arrows in Tom Wadlow on Astana and Sardinia. Editorial Director, Outlook Publishing Enjoy the issue! ISSUE 27

Mahou San Miguel’s Erik d’Auchamp, a self-confessed beer geek, spearheads the Spanish brewer’s international growth

BUSINESS TRAVEL GUIDE 00

Astana: Kazakhstan’s new capital

EME

BAUR FORMSCHAUMTECHNIK

S.R.O 00 Investing in plants, people and progress

ALSO FEATURING: A U T O

F A S T E N E R S

ETMAM LOGISTICS 00 Saudi Arabia’s 3PL standard setter

A A F I Y A

QUALITY ARCHITECTURAL

SYSTEMS 00 A tight-knit family of architectural experts

T P A

D U M A G A S

EDITORIAL Editorial Director: Tom Wadlow tom.wadlow@outlookpublishing.com Deputy Editor: Jonathan Dyble jonathan.dyble@outlookpublishing.com

PRODUCTION Production Manager: Daniel George daniel.george@outlookpublishing.com Art Director: Stephen Giles steve.giles@outlookpublishing.com Advert Designer: Devon Collins devon.collins@outlookpublishing.com

BUSINESS

Sales Director: Nick Norris nick.norris@outlookpublishing.com Operations Director: James Mitchell james.mitchell@outlookpublishing.com PROJECT DIRECTORS Joshua Mann joshua.mann@outlookpublishing.com Tom Cullum tom.cullum@outlookpublishing.com HEAD OF PROJECTS Joe Palliser (Business Travel) joe.palliser@outlookpublishing.com Kane Weller kane.weller@outlookpublishing.com TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Eddie Clinton eddie.clinton@outlookpublishing.com SALES MANAGERS Jordan Levey (Business Travel) jordan.levey@outlookpublishing.com Ryan Gray (Business Travel) ryan.gray@outlookpublishing.com PROJECT MANAGERS Ashley Parfitt ashley.parfitt@outlookpublishing.com Callam Waller callam.waller@outlookpublishing.com Josh Hyland josh.hyland@outlookpublishing.com Lewis Bush lewis.bush@outlookpublishing.com Matt Cole-Wilkin matt.cole-wilkin@outlookpublishing.com Matthew Selby matthew.selby@outlookpublishing.com Richard Thomas richard.thomas@outlookpublishing.com Thomas Arnold thomas.arnold@outlookpublishing.com

ADMINISTRATION

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In this issue...

8 10

NEWS

Around EME in seven stories

EXPERT EYE

How to make the most of AR and VR

S P E C I A L F E AT U R E S

FOOD & DRINK

TECHNOLOGY

For the Love of Beer An interview with Mahou San Miguel’s Erik d’Auchamp Mastering Digital Media Talking technology with the BBC’s Head of Digital Partnerships

S E C TO R

F O C U S

TECHNOLOGY

The Future of Smart Energy A Q&A with Norway’s DNV GL on the rise of smart cities

BUSINESS TRAVEL GUIDES

22 32

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ASTANA

Kazakhstan’s new capital

SARDINIA

Becoming the Mediterranean’s number one venue for events

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H E A L T H C A R E

SHOWCASING LEADING COMPANIES Tell us your story and we’ll tell the world

KING HUSSEIN CANCER CENTER

AAFIYA TPA

MANUFACTURING

BAUR FORMSCHAUMTECHNIK S.R.O

A Regional Go-To for Cancer Care Helping to treat the world’s second leading cause of death

Shaping the Automotive Mould Investing in plants, people and progress

CONSTRUCTION

64 44

AUTO FASTENERS

Life in the Fastener Lane How it pays to persevere

SHIPPING & LOGISTICS

ETMAM LOGISTICS

Driving Through a Gap in the Market Saudi Arabia’s 3PL standard setter

QUALITY ARCHITECTURAL SYSTEMS

Powering Projects from Start to Finish A tight-knit family of architectural experts

DP FAÇADE

Design’s Global Superpower Nine companies, one global network

ENERGY & UTILITIES

DUMAGAS

The Transport Transformer A go-to for road freight in Romania

SCAN ELECTROMECHANICAL The GCC’s EPC Specialist Providing power to the people

In Good Health Raising the bar of health insurance provision

E V E N T

F O C U S

102

MINING INVESTMENT LONDON

104

EUROPEAN BASE OILS & LUBRICANTS INTERACTIVE SUMMIT

The foremost mining investment forum in the UK

Driving industry collaboration through networking and discussion

106

SIAL ME

108

MIDDLE EAST HEALTHCARE & TECHNOLOGY 2018

110

Bringing culinary excellence from the world to Abu Dhabi

Propelling Saudi Arabia into the digital healthcare age

EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION OFFSHORE CONGRESS HUB 2018 A forum for innovation in offshore oil & gas

112

CS4CA MENA 2019

114

SAUDI ARABIA RENEWABLE ENERGY SOLAR & WIND 2018

Cyber Security for Critical Assets Summit arrives in Dubai

Opening up KSA to the power of renewables

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Outlook Creative Services Complementing the production of Africa Outlook, Asia Outlook and Europe & Middle East Outlook magazines, Outlook Publishingâ€™s award-winning in-house team is now utilising these same specialist production skills to offer a full and bespoke range of editorial, design and marketing services via its new Outlook Creative Services division. For more information on how we can work with you in providing a plethora of completely flexible and customisable production services, please visit www.outlookpublishing.com/creative-services

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Jonathan Dyble +44 (0) 1603 959 660 jonathan.dyble@outlookpublishing.com

Around Europe and the Middle East in seven stories… TECHNOLOGY

C O N S T R U C T I O N

Germany’s Meilenstein announces $327 million UAE construction pipeline

Siemens commits €600 million to Berlin ‘Siemensstadt 2.0’ project German tech giant Siemens is making its largest ever investment in Berlin after announcing plans to build a ‘Siemens City’ on a 70-hectare expanse of industrial space. Costing €600 million, Siemensstadt 2.0 aims to transform the area into a modern, urban district of the future for a diverse range of working and living purposes. The site will also house centres of research and expertise, startup

incubators and research and scientific institutes as well as their partner companies. Joe Kaeser, President and CEO of Siemens, commented: “Megatrends like industrialisation and urbanisation will usher in fundamental changes. Working, learning and residential living will be more integrated, and increasing connectivity among people and things will create new ecosystems.”

F I N A N C E

Citigroup given green light to expand into Abu Dhabi Banking group Citi is to open a new Citibank branch in Abu Dhabi as it continues expanding in the UAE. The branch will be located at Abu

Dhabi Global Market and will provide liquidity management and institutional

Meilenstein, a German real estate developer, has announced its foray in the UAE market with eight projects worth $327 million. The projects are to be built in several locations across Dubai, including Mohammed Bin Rashid City (MBR City) within Meydan City, Al Furjan, Dubai Studio City and Dubai Sports City. Jawad Azizi, Managing Director of Meilenstein Developments, said: “Meilenstein Developments is entering in the UAE market at a time when the real estate sector achieved a high level of maturity backed up with a regulatory environment that protects property buyers, investors, developers and brokers and with a high level of transparency and accountability.” During the first nine months of 2018, Dubai received 27,174 investments from 21,605 investors, totalling around $13 billion.

banking services to Citi clients. The American firm has been present in the country since 1964 and is also looking to grow its reach in Saudi Arabia by applying for a full banking license. Abu Dhabi Global Market has emerged as an important financial hub since it opened in October 2015, with Citi’s license granted during a site visit by CEO Mike Corbat.

GO TO WWW.EMEOUTLOOKMAG.COM/NEWS FOR ALL OF THE LATEST NEWS FROM EUROPE & MIDDLE EAST

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T R A N S P O R T

Sony takeover of EMI Music Publishing cleared by European Commission The European Commission (EC) has cleared the way for Sony to acquire 60 percent of UK-based EMI Music Publishing for $2.3 billion, taking its overall stake up to 90 percent. The remaining 10 percent will be purchased by Sony from Jackson Estate in a deal worth $287.5 million that was agreed in July. In its announcement, the EC stated: “The Commission found the deal raises no competition concerns,

Etihad Airways marks 15-year anniversary

in particular as it will not increase Sony’s market power vis-à-vis online platforms.” It has not all been plain sailing for Sony, as opposition from independent music organisations such as IMPALA threatened to derail the deal by lobbying EX regulators.

UAE carrier Etihad Airways is celebrating 15 years in operation since its first flight took off from Abu Dhabi on November 5, 2003. Tony Douglas, Chief Executive Officer, said: “In this short time, we have emerged as one of the world’s most respected and recognised airline brands, known for leading the way through innovation, and upholding the best aspects of Arabian hospitality, delivered to millions of customers with a style and flair synonymous with the national airline of the United Arab Emirates.” During the past 15 years the Company has operated over 840,000 passenger flights and has carried 139 million guests globally, served by a workforce of over 22,000 hailing from over 150 countries. O I L & G A S

Shell reports 37 percent profit jump for Q3 2018 R E T A I L

IKEA to enter Oman following September launch in Bahrain Prolific Swedish retailer IKEA is continuing its expansion in the Middle East after it announced plans to expand into Oman. Having already opened up business in Bahrain in September, IKEA wants to enter several new markets in the

next few years and reach three billion potential customers by 2025. CEO Torbjorn Loof said in a statement: “We will offer new and different ways to shop the Ikea product range - online, in remote locations and in city centres. We will introduce smaller store formats and offer a wide range of flexible and affordable services.” Mexico, Estonia, Ukraine, Puerto Rico, Luxembourg, Macau and the Philippines are among the other new markets being targeted by IKEA.

Royal Dutch Shell has enjoyed a strong third quarter, with profits rising by 37 percent thanks to ascending oil prices. In a video announcing the results, Jessica Uhl, Chief Financial Officer, said: “Our results today show that our strategy is working and we are on track to where we want to be by 2020. “We remain committed to our financial framework and focused on capital discipline. With our strong cashflow outlook and our performance track record Shell’s future looks bright.” Q3 earnings hit $5.6 billion excluding one-off items, up from $4.1 billion on last year.

GO TO WWW.EMEOUTLOOKMAG.COM/NEWS FOR ALL OF THE LATEST NEWS FROM EUROPE & MIDDLE EAST

How to make the most of AR and VR

Lanny Cohen, Chief Innovation Officer at Capgemini, describes the rise of augmented and virtual reality in business operations and the barriers still to be overcome Written by: Lanny Cohen

ABOUT THE EXPERT Lanny Cohen is responsible for Capgemini’s global applied innovation strategy. He leads the design and planning for Group-wide innovation initiatives, and oversees the global Applied Innovation Exchange (AIE) platform including its 16 applied innovation centres. During his 35 year plus career at Capgemini and Ernst & Young combined, Cohen has held positions along the entire spectrum of business management, account management, business development, and delivery management, from consultant to partner/vice president. Within and outside of Capgemini, he is a strong advocate of industry advancement and higher education. Cohen’s standing in business and technology innovation sees him currently sitting on the ImpactLabs Advisory Board, overseeing an industry collaboration to deploy IoT to enhance enterprise and community resilience.

irtual and augmented reality (VR/AR) technologies are most commonly associated with consumers, revolutionising the entertainment sector in particular. However, traditional manufacturing and B2B industries are now increasingly looking to these technologies for assisting workers and improving their operations. Capgemini’s latest research discovered that nearly half (46 percent) of all enterprises currently not using AR and VR say that they see a potential benefit to their operations and expect them to be mainstream within the next three years. However, a tension exists. Most

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businesses also acknowledge significant barriers to adopting these technologies, particularly when it comes to skills and training. So how can businesses make the most of the opportunity?

Changing the way we work

We surveyed over 700 professionals leading, monitoring, or actively involved in AR or VR activities in their organisations across the globe, with a focus on traditional manufacturing, utilities and automotive industries. Of businesses that are already using AR and VR, 82 percent say that the technology is either meeting or beating their expectations.

The report revealed that AR technology – connecting the digital world to the real world – is currently more popular, with two thirds (66 percent) of organisations believing it is more relevant to their operations than VR. AR is already being used for a range of applications. For example, overlaying assembly instructions for a product on an assembly line. When VR is used, it is more commonly done to enhance experiences such as training where staff are immersed in theoretical scenarios. However, VR can also be used to ‘transport’ experts to sites and provide technical advice, cutting travel time and eliminating the need for experts to physically be at a site. A crucial point here is that AR and VR technologies supplement and enhance, rather than replace, human roles at work. Both realities are, by their nature, created for the benefit of humans. They also are made to be intuitive and complement the way we already work, meaning that fundamental new skills aren’t required by those using the technologies. What is required is the right resources and expertise to implement them in the first place.

Rising to the reality challenge

How do businesses implement AR and VR into their operations in a meaningful way? We identified a small group of ‘early achiever’ companies that are already gaining significant

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benefit from their immersive technology initiatives. All of these businesses have taken steps to implement AR/VR technologies and have been more successful than their peers in making them work for their business. We assessed what they have in common, and identified four themes that others can learn from to accelerate their immersive technology programs. First, put a centralised governance model in place to build awareness of immersive technologies and look for opportunities to implement them throughout the business. Some 78 percent of early achievers have

dedicated central teams or innovation centers, compared with only 51 percent of other companies, where expertise is delegated to departments that have more limited access to expertise. Second, invest in staff who have the skills required to push immersive technologies and integrate them with existing systems. Almost all early achiever companies (93 percent) are investing heavily in agile in-house teams and are reaping the rewards as a result.

A crucial point here is that AR and VR technologies supplement and enhance, rather than replace, human roles at work’

Third, focus on applications of these technologies that provide support to employees in their day-to-day role. Half of all organisations struggle to identify the right use for immersive technology, but companies should not roll out AR and VR for the sake of it. Think about what the blocks are for your employees, what impedes their everyday tasks, and then think about how technology can help overcome these barriers. Finally, organisations need to prepare their technology infrastructure to integrate AR and VR. These technologies need to integrate smoothly into existing systems and function seamlessly with legacy software and hardware. The theoretical application of VR and AR may be perfect, but it won’t help assist businesses operations if it doesn’t work properly from day one. Businesses that get this right stand to benefit from immersive technologies that will become mainstream for more applications in the coming years. Those that don’t risk being left behind and struggling with outdated ways of working.

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M A H O U

S A N

M I G U E L

For the Love of An ice-cold Mahou I would describe as my staple, but some of our partner brewers’ beers like Avery’s coconut porter I also have a taste for at the moment. That’s the good thing about our portfolio, it allows me to explore lots of different varieties.” Erik d’Auchamp unashamedly loves beer. Born in Brazil, the Dane started his career at national favourite Carlsberg in 2000 and has since moved to the USA, Spain, India, and back to Spain, where he now assumes the role of Managing Director of Mahou San Miguel’s International Business Unit. “I have fallen in love with the category, whether it be beer, nonalcoholic beer or water which we also work in,” d’Auchamp continues. “We have seen so many different styles and flavours introduced over the past two years – beer today is not what it was 20 years ago.

Writer: Tom Wadlow “It has become far more accessible and sophisticated. Some of the barrel-aged products we are seeing currently I didn’t think were possible two decades ago. In some cases beer is competing with spirits, offering flavours that remind you of the drinks that used to be made in those barrels, like rum or whisky.”

Against the grain

D’Auchamp not only works in an industry he holds a deep-rooted passion for, but one which his employer is currently thriving in. Mahou San Miguel enjoyed a record-breaking year, bucking the trend of the wider market. In 2017 the brewer turned over €1.26 billion, equating to 16.6 million hectolitres of product made. Around 13 percent of business is generated by sales from d’Auchamp’s international unit, while in home nation Spain, the Company enjoys a 34 percent market share. “It has been a positive year,” he says. “As a Group we produced and

Mahou San Miguel’s Erik d’Auchamp

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sold more than ever. We are still leading the category here in Spain and our sales internationally are on track with where we want them to be, especially in the UK where we grew by nine percent in terms of volumes.” Mahou San Miguel plays an important role both economically and socially to Spain, contributing 3,500 hours of voluntary work last year and channelling €2.1 million into social causes. The firm also uses 92 percent Spanish suppliers. On top of this, last year saw 235 new hires, taking total employment up to 3,200, while nearly €2 million was spent on recruiting, retaining and developing talent. The Company’s success also enabled it to invest €4 million in environmental programmes in 2017, leading to a 1.92 percent reduction in water use, 4.6 percent energy saving and zero waste footprint across the year despite increasing production levels.

Widening the spectrum

Mahou San Miguel’s success is all the more impressive given it comes against the backdrop of a fairly flat European beer market in terms of growth.

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M A H O U

S A N

M I G U E L

This pattern of declining consumption is leading brewers to innovate new products to suit a broader range of tastes and occasions. “One trend we are watching very closely and acting on is the premiumisation of well-known brands,” d’Auchamp says. “For example, we have introduced Mahou barrel-aged brands and launched San Miguel Selecta. In Europe, premium craft beers are also doing well and in some markets, depending on the country you look at, are growing in double digits.” While premium offerings containing a higher percentage of alcohol are becoming more mainstream, so too are products at the other end of the spectrum in the form of non-alcoholic beers. The past year has seen a tremendous uptick in the visibility of low alcohol-

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Consumers are more conscious about what they drink and are looking to balance a healthier lifestyle with the enjoyment of drink, and nonalcoholic beer fills that need”

and alcohol-free beer, with all the major brewers extending their ranges or branching out into the category for the first time. “This has taken off in Europe,” says d’Auchamp. “We are market leaders in this category in Spain and are also in the UK with San Miguel 0,0. In India, we are importing both San Miguel and Mahou non-alcoholic beers and are also exporting these to the Middle East. It is certainly a busy category. “Consumers are more conscious about what they drink and are looking to balance a healthier lifestyle with the enjoyment of drink, and non-alcoholic beer fills that need.” Last year saw Mahou San Miguel invest more than €20 million into non-alcoholic and other R&D projects – four new products were launched in 2017 and 3.8 percent of total sales were attributable to innovation.

Earlier this year the Spanish firm also acquired 30 percent of Avery Brewing, another American artisan business. D’Auchamp adds: “This is a great team out in Boulder, Colorado. It is one of many agreements we have struck in 2018, be it partnerships like Avery or distribution agreements like the one we have agreed with German family-

Norwich, in the East of England, is one city to have embraced the German tradition, using the proceeds to fund programmes for disadvantaged young people in the area

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owned business Warsteiner, who will distribute for us in Germany.” The southern half of the Americas is another key strategic target, the Company eager to explore opportunities in new markets over the next year or so. Having solidified its presence closer to home in the likes of the UK and continental Europe, the New World is where d’Auchamp’s lens lies. He concludes: “We hope to become a lot more international than we are now, and we want to do that by expanding more into craft.

Into the New World

Mahou San Miguel’s investment in new ideas has evolved in tandem with exploration into new markets via partnerships and acquisitions. While the UK remains d’Auchamp’s most significant source of international revenue, boosted by a bumper summer of sport and hot weather, a number of forays into other territories are bearing fruit. Carlsberg is an important distribution partner in the UK, and this year the two signed another deal involving the distribution of the Danish brand in the Canary Islands. In America, Mahou San Miguel is building on a successful partnership with craft brewery Founders, which it bought a 30 percent stake in at the end of 2017.

The rise of Oktoberfest Although the general trend in Europe is showing a slowdown in beer consumption, events such as Oktoberfest are more popular than ever. Munich, spiritual home of the festival, has been hosting the event since 1810 and in 2016 saw more than six million visitors drink 6.6 million litres of beer between them. Oktoberfest has steadily been welcomed into the calendars of many places all around the world, with pop-up marquees, lederhosen and bratwurst taking over cities for days, even whole weeks in some areas. Norwich, in the East of England, is one city to have embraced the German tradition, using the proceeds to fund programmes for disadvantaged young people in the area. This year’s event is hoping to top the £10,000 raised for local causes in 2017.

“Latin America holds a lot of potential for us, and we are looking at a Chilean import company that is opening up a lot of space in that market. We hope to use this opportunity as a learning base for growth across the whole continent.”

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M A S T E R I N G

D I G I T A L

M E D I A

Mastering Digital Media From audio to visual, Cyrus Saihan, Head of Digital Partnerships at the BBC, has explored the growing capabilities of technology throughout his career Writer: Jonathan Dyble

ong gone is the heyday of vinyl, something that millennials and Gen Z now refer to as ‘vintage’. In truth, the exponential world of technology that has fundamentally changed our lives is no better reflected than in the rapid progression of the music industry. In the way of statistics, 2017 best highlights this. Total global revenues from music streaming services such as Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music rose 41 percent to $6.6 billion for the year, surpassing CD revenues for the first time which comparatively accumulated $5.2 billion. Meanwhile, aside from such services, it is estimated that YouTube accounted for 46 percent of all music streamed worldwide (not including China) last year, according to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. Compare this to 2005 when YouTube didn’t even exist to begin with, CDs accounted for $17.9 billion in global revenue and digital music contributed for a much lower $1.1 billion, and it is easy to see how quickly the industry has moved in little more than a decade. For many, it was hard to envisage the transformative potential of technology in relation to the music industry at the turn of the millennium.

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However, Cyrus Saihan, currently the British Broadcasting Corporation’s Head of Digital Partnerships, did anticipate the growth in opportunity. “I originally started out as a lawyer in the city, but seeing how the music landscape was changing with the launch of iTunes and MP3 players, I joined Ministry of Sound. I had a great time working there, experimenting with new types of digital content like ringtones and mobile videos,” he reveals. “A few years later, YouTube took off, heralding the start of new ways to distribute videos online. Seeing that opportunity, I left Ministry of Sound to found a digital video production company and then came to the BBC a few years later, not long after the launch of BBC iPlayer.”

From then till now

Having worked at the BBC for almost a decade, standing in his current role for the past three years, Saihan has witnessed equally momentous changes across all segments of the media industry. “I joined just before the iPad launched when only a small percentage of the population owned smartphones. To be part of such a well renowned, forwardthinking media organisation as massive changes have taken place has been fantastic,” he says.

“Whether it has been the emergence of new devices, connected TVs or new formats such as virtual reality and augmented reality, progress in the media industry has brought a lot of opportunities with it.” Renowned as an innovative institution since its inception in 1922, the BBC retains the same core principles today as it did almost 100 years ago – adapting early in the aim of satisfying the growing demands and expectations of the consumer. However, since the turn of the millennium, ground breaking innovations at the organisation have become increasingly frequent, from the launch of bbc.co.uk in 1997 when the internet was still finding its feet, to the creation of the iPlayer in 2007. This is only expected to continue, and moving into 2018, the organisation has increasingly immersed itself in experimenting with new and emerging technologies.

To be part of such a well renowned, forward-thinking media organisation as massive changes have taken place has been fantastic”

Inventive experimentation

Partnering with Spritz, the BBC has sought to explore the potential of revolutionising the way that people intake information, raising the bar with the development of ‘speed reading’ technology.

Saihan explains: “Our speed reading experiment was an internal prototype to see how new technologies might be able to help people read BBC content faster than ever before, and better deal with the increasing amount of digital information that all of us are now presented with on a daily basis. “By showing users one word at a time on screen, the idea is that a user’s eyes can stay in a fixed position and not have to be constantly moving from left to

EME right as they read. The result, in theory, is that the rate at which a user can read can be dramatically increased.” Partnerships such as these are crucial, not only to the success of the BBC, but in a wider context of continuing to transform and develop new technologies in the modern age. The Corporation ensures that it maintains strong relationships across the spectrum, working with global heavyweights such as Amazon, Google, Facebook and Apple, whilst also leveraging the unique ideas of startups and digital agencies like Spritz. “The BBC invests significantly in working with all kinds of organisations,” Saihan explains. “The external creative economy is an important source of new ideas and gives us access to talent that helps us deliver our digital products and services, ranging from our mobile apps to online games for popular brands such as Doctor Who and Danger Mouse. “By combining our expertise and resources with partners from outside the organisation, we are able to support the wider creative industry and deliver greater value to everyone.” The speed reading experiment is just one example of the BBC’s extensive technological endeavours, with the firm also exploring the use of voice interfaces. Having led the proof of concept project that allowed consumers to log into the BBC’s services using a unique voiceprint off the back of this, Saihan is hopeful that expansive advancements in the media industry will continue moving forward. He concludes: “As the technology develops further and as audiences get more comfortable speaking with their digital devices, it will be interesting to see what other new types of media experience could be created. “When you are able to have a proper conversation with your phone, TV or radio, it could open up a range of opportunities for organisations such as the BBC.”

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S E C T O R

F O C U S

The Future of

SMART ENERGY Norway’s DNV GL is helping cities to become smarter. We spoke to Executive Vice President & Regional Manager Prajeev Rasiah about the latest trends and developments in this particularly active sector Writer: Tom Wadlow

hat cities need to become smarter and countries greener is no new train of thought. The Paris Agreement of 2015, adoption of which is widely accepted as necessary to avoid future climate catastrophe, sets out plans to keep long-term global warming well within two degrees Celsius. Scandinavian nations are among the most visibly committed to holding up their own end of the bargain. Shortly after the Paris accord was struck, Norway placed in law a commitment to ban the sale of petrol and diesel

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vehicles by 2025 in a bid to go 100 percent electric. This is just one way in which countries are looking to cut emissions, with smart city and energy policies also important in moving towards meaningful carbon reduction. In the Norwegian private sphere, DNV GL is one organisation at the forefront of this movement both at home and abroad. Prajeev Rasiah is Executive Vice President & Regional Manager (Northern Europe, Middle East and Africa) for the Company, responsible for operations in the UK, Ireland, Nordics, Baltics and Benelux areas, and UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, Morocco, Oman and Israel. “DNV GL is a global quality assurance

and risk management company, driven by a purpose safeguarding life, property and the environment,” he explains. “With origins stretching back to 1864 and 12,000 employees spread across 350 offices in over 100 countries, we provide classification, technical assurance, software and independent expert advisory services to the maritime, oil & gas and energy industries. We also provide certification, supply chain and data management services to customers across a wide range of industries.” Discussing further his remit and observations on smart cities and smart energy infrastructure, Rasiah took time to answer our questions.

fall, those two energy sources are set to meet most of the electricity demand, with solar PV delivering 40 percent of electricity generation and wind energy 29 percent.  The Nordics, UK, Ireland and the Netherlands have either established or growing markets especially in the wind energy sector. In the Middle East governments and industries are increasingly trying to balance economic, societal and environmental needs. Electricity demand in the Middle East will triple by 2050, accelerating the growth of renewable energy and triggering the diversification of economies away from fossil fuels. The rise of renewables will also see demand for supporting technologies, such as storage, and DNV GL forecasts a very significant growth in battery capacity installed specifically to cope with variable renewables: around 50 TWh by 2050.

EME Outlook (EME): What are DNV GL’s major growth areas in the EME region? What key trends are you identifying? Prajeev Rasiah (PR): In the next 30 years, the demand for electricity will grow, driven by the electrification of transport, buildings and the manufacturing sectors. According to our annual energy transition outlook, electricity’s share of the total energy demand is expected to more than double to 45 percent in 2050. This surge in global electricity production will be powered by renewable sources accounting for an estimated 80 percent of global electricity production in 2050. As the costs for wind and solar continue to

EME: How important are smart cities becoming to the infrastructure of cities throughout Europe and the Middle East? PR: Smart cities will become increasingly important for supporting the changing energy landscape and the infrastructure this demands. Rapid electrification and the rise of electricity generation from wind and solar sources will lead to major expansion of electricity transmission and distribution systems both in the length and capacity of transmission lines. At the same time, electricity generation and despatch are also increasingly moving from a centralised to a decentralised operation model. Decentralised energy sources such as rooftop solar panels or individual wind turbines are an important part of the transition to a more sustainable energy future. They can help consumers manage what they use and reduce their bills as well as contributing to lower emissions. In the future, the growth of these resources

EME will put additional pressure on electricity distribution infrastructure, which must be prepared to handle the secure, safe and reliable distribution of electricity Smart infrastructure, including sensors, will be critical for analysing information about energy and help consumers and utilities to make better decisions. The future energy model means that consumers will be king. At DNV GL, we are helping cities to achieve this now by working with them, both to develop future frameworks and plans and help deliver innovative technological solutions that provide a stepped approach to getting there. EME: What, for you, defines a smart grid? How important are these to the success of a smart city? PR: A smart grid can gather information from all parts of the grid, from transmission level to distribution level and consumer level (the latter using smart meters) and use this information to optimise supply and consumption. Smart grids are hugely important for the success of future cities, because as cities expand, infrastructure will struggle to keep pace. An electricity supply network that uses digital communication technology to detect and react to local changes in usage will enable us to plan better, meet demand and encourage sustainable energy use. EME: Tell us about DNV GL’s work in this area. What expertise do you offer? PR: The success of smart grids will rely on the technologies deployed within them as well as this technology’s integration and compatibility with existing and future systems. We work with the energy industry to help them navigate smart grid interoperability standards and manage risks of deploying and integrating new technologies with existing assets.

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S E C T O R

F O C U S

To do this we’ve created a Smart Grid Interoperability Laboratory to provide the utility industry and key suppliers a platform for managing risk exposure, verifying business case projections, and securing a more effective and efficient smart grid deployment. We also support key players such as governments, regulators and distribution system operators in designing and implementing regulatory frameworks and mechanisms that facilitate the concepts of smart grids and smart cities. EME: Can you state and describe any successful project examples? PR: A ground-breaking project was PowerMatching City, the world’s first real-life smart grid as well as a living laboratory that evolved into a Smart Green City project. The project ran from 2009 to 2015 and created an integrated smart grid solution, supporting 25 houses in the City of Groningen, in the Netherlands. The houses were equipped with small renewable energy generators, smart appliances, electric vehicle chargers and smart meters. Through the Powermatcher technology, connected households exchanged electricity on a real-time basis to realise energy bill savings, lower carbon emissions and facilitate local renewable generation. PowerMatching City indirectly led to DNV GL co-creating the Universal Smart Energy Framework (USEF) framework, which provides a common standard for smart energy systems to optimise the allocation of flexibility

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Several of the projects we work on and solutions we develop for our customers utilise machine learning to make grids smarter”

behaviours. This includes energy efficiency programme development and implementation and smart meter implementations globally. In the Middle East, we’ve worked closely with various stakeholders in Saudi Arabia to develop a comprehensive understanding of power consumption patterns and trends across the Kingdom. This information will be used by Saudi government agencies to forecast future trends and develop appropriate planning methodologies.

EME: How important are technologies like blockchain and AI to DNV GL in this area? PR: AI can play a huge role in making across the industry, while allowing cities and infrastructure smarter. Several of the projects we work on maximum freedom of choice for all and solutions we develop for our industry participants. customers utilise machine learning to In the UK, DNV GL is on the verge make grids smarter. One such product of commencing an innovation project that seeks to develop a competitive is Smart Cable Guard, a data-driven online monitoring solution which market to enable flexibility as an locates and pinpoints faults and weak economic alternative to manage spots in cables. With an increasing distribution network operators’ number of renewables and smart constraints. The project will develop, implement, and trial the USEF electronics added to the electricity network, the power grid must cope framework, and will inform wider with more dynamic stress each year policy development around flexibility to prevent outages. Digitalising markets through the development of operations using Smart Cable Guard standardised industry specifications, results in up to 25 percent fewer processes, and requirements for failures compared to traditional transparent information exchange between market participants accessing methods. This, in turn, leads to cost savings and higher grid reliability. market-based demand-side flexibility. Blockchain is currently not as We also work on early stage smart advanced as AI but future changes energy projects designed to help change consumer energy consumption such as the increase in peer to

peer trading of energy will require technologies like blockchain to enable more efficient and secure economic exchange between participants. EME: How do you see technology advancing in the coming years to boost smart grid/energy provision? PR: Smart energy technologies mean new opportunities to boost smart grid and energy provisions. As penetration of renewables increases, it’ll become much more important that multiple stakeholders such as utilities, distributed power producers, including “prosumers”, and independent system operators work together to address these new grid challenges. The technology is already advanced enough to meet our needs, but so far cost and regulatory barriers have been prohibitive. As we deploy more of this technology the cost will decrease and this will push the uptake of renewables. When it comes to smart grids, the cost of sensor technology will reduce, and overlay technologies will further develop to make grids smarter. EME: If you had to pick a leading example, anywhere in the world, of a smart city, what would it be and why? PR: Singapore is reaching beyond the ambition of becoming a smart city; it intends to become a ‘smart nation’. The two most important trends for Singapore are those of an ageing population, and an urban density of nearly 8,000 people per square

kilometer – compared with 350400 in countries like Japan and The Netherlands. Singapore is pulling together its universities and medical facilities, research and development (R&D) investments, a fast-growing community of tech start-ups and investment capital in a remarkable collaborative effort. The government is powering these innovation efforts by putting in place standards to support innovation, establishing an island-wide

Singapore is reaching beyond the ambition of becoming a smart city; it intends to become a ‘smart nation’”

high speed 1Gbps broadband access and wireless broadband infrastructure, making available some 11,000 governmental data sets, and hosting a ‘living lab’ to test new ideas and solutions for smart energy infrastructure, using sensor networks and big data and analytics technologies. Examples of innovation initiatives

EME include the trialing of a tele-health rehabilitation system enabling home therapy sessions and opening of a road network for autonomous vehicle trials. The government’s Smart Energy Community test-bed is part of the Eco-Campus programme based on experiences of the ‘PowerMatching City’ in the Netherlands. It will demonstrate customers’ use and business cases to enhance energy efficiency, maximise renewable energy integration, and develop new electricity market policies for Singapore’s future energy system. EME: Any concluding comments you wish to make on the future of energy? PR: Despite the positive outlook on the expansion of renewable energy and the electrification of key sectors, the energy transition will not be fast enough to meet global climate targets. In fact, DNV GL found that the first emission-free year will be 2090, if the energy transition continues at the pace predicted in its report.  The good news is that the energy transition is achievable and affordable. However, the rapid transition we are predicting is still not fast enough to achieve the goal of the Paris Climate Agreement. If we are to decarbonise the world’s energy system at the required speed, we need to adapt and automate our electricity grids, and regulators and politicians will need to re-think, re-shape and take major policy decisions about market models.

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A S T A N A

ASTANA Kazakhstanâ€™s new capital Building on the back of the grand successes of EXPO 2017, Astana is looking to make further strides on the global stage Writer: Jonathan Dyble | Project Manager: Joe Palliser

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EME FACTS & FIGURES

Languages: Area: Population (2013): Currency: Time zone: Dialling code: Internet TLD: Climate: Highest recorded temperature:

Kazakh, Russian 722 km² 814,435 Kazakhstani tenge GMT+6 +7 .kz continental 41.6°C

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A S T A N A

The Business End FORECAST TO REACH a population of two million by 2030, Astana is a city that’s continually on the up. Not only the capital, but the country as a whole substantially bolstered its international reputation last year after Astana hosted the successful EXPO 2017 – a world leading international exposition held between June 10 and September 10 that welcomed more than 3.8 million visitors. Centred around a theme of enhancing and exploring the future possibilities of energy in achieving

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global sustainable development, the expo itself echoed this innovative outlook through the Nur Alem, a structure that is renowned as the world’s largest spherical building. Looking ahead, in the wake of the successes of EXPO 2017, the city is set to host a number of major global events in the coming year, namely the eighth United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) Global Summit on Urban Tourism in 2019. With UNWTO standing as the leading international body responsible

for the promotion of sustainable and universally acceptable tourism, the conference is expected to attract leading tourism experts from all over the globe to Astana. “Driven by the attention generated by EXPO 2017, the last three years have seen a drastic growth in the tourism sector. Now it is time to sail in these tailwinds and further promote the city and the region,” says Helena Mahuas, Deputy Director of the Astana Convention Bureau.

EME

Out & About

ONE OF THE main attractions of Astana is undoubtedly its visionary architecture. The Khan Shatyr is said to best reflect this. Standing as the world’s largest tent, the project that has become one of the most remarkable shopping districts in the world. Unveiled in 2006, it remains just as impressive today as it was 12 years ago. An area spanning the same length as 10 football fields can be found underneath its roof, featuring an indoor beach resort, boat river and a shopping centre that stretches for many hundreds of metres. Equally, the Palace of Peace and Reconciliation, City Park, Hazrat Mosque and the State Theatre of

Opera are also completely unique structures that are worth a visit, each standing as a unique display of the city’s architectural amazements. Meanwhile, despite a growing commercial presence across the city, Astana’s Soviet history has not been forgotten. Formerly known as Akmolinsk until 1961 before it was renamed as Tselinograd (1961-62) and then as Agmola (1992-98), Astana sits along the Ishim River at the crossroads of the Trans-Kazakhstan and South Siberian Railways. The city was readily made a Russian stronghold throughout the Cold War, influences that are particularly reflected in older parts of the city. Taking a walk through the old town

is of stark contrast to the more modern areas with the charm of local businesses and lively local-filled sidewalks. Outside of the city, it is recommended to travel to Burabay National Park – an area that can be the perfect escape from Astana’s expansive urban environment, with the park readymade for outdoor activities such as cycling, hiking and rock climbing.

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A S T A N A

Astana Convention Bureau SPEAKING TO EME Outlook, Mahuas is quick to emphasise that there’s a lot to be excited about in Astana, and not just in way of its rising reputation as an international conference and events hub. Having been established in 2015, the Astana Convention Bureau has come to the forefront of the city’s tourism industry, promoting a number of prospects across the city from the business end to its leisure offerings. In this exclusive interview with Mahaus, we find out more about what’s on offer in the capital and what’s going to be happening throughout the city over the coming months.

Astana Convention Bureau mainly focused on events organised by the City of Astana as well as activities associated with Astana EXPO 2017. This was the largest international event that Kazakhstan has ever hosted, attracting four million visitors in a period of three months with over 110 participating countries and international organisations. The initial setting up phase as well as EXPO itself have been ideal vectors and a platform for the implementation of our wider tourism strategy, both surrounding leisure and business, as well as the development of the destination approach involving key players such as hotels, agencies, tour operators and other organisations. EME Outlook (EMEO): Since Since the EXPO, the scope of our inception, how has the Astana services has further enlarged, and four Convention Bureau developed and main departments have been clearly progressed in terms of its key objectives defined within the Astana Convention and the messages it tries to get across? Bureau: MICE, events, infrastructure Helena Mahaus (HM): Initially the and marketing.

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Each of these have a specific role and focus in order to promote the city and destination. EMEO: To this end, how would you say Astana has developed in recent years as a business travel hub and what are the key reasons behind its growing appeal? HM: Following the establishment of Astana as the new capital of Kazakhstan and the vision of President Nazarbayev to position the new capital as the leading destination of Central Asia, much has been done. Many new hotels, including those from international brands, have been built and opened alongside new congress facilities, a new airport terminal and airline routes, and a railway station. Equally, Air Astana has gained international recognition within Central Asia, whilst the creation of the Astana Convention Bureau itself can also be considered a major tourism milestone.

Astana and Kazakhstan, with their unique location, are referred as to the Heart of Eurasia. The energy associated with the city’s development has been essential in maximising its appeal. EMEO: Taking a more general industry stance, how would you evaluate the tourism sector in Astana now compared to its condition when the Convention Bureau began? HM: In 2015 there were 1,500 international hotel rooms. Now we are at almost 3,000 rooms. Major brands such as Ritz Carlton, St Regis, and Hilton have all opened their doors in last two years. Equally, in the last few years Air Astana and other local airlines have opened many new routes or increased their frequency, while other international airlines took on the opportunity to launch flight routes to Kazakhstan. EMEO: What is in store for Astana over the course of 2018 and beyond to continue the good work

already commenced and to enhance its reputation as a tourism and business travel hub further in the future? HM: Three main areas have been defined as objectives and strategic goals for 2019. We aim to increase the level of international business in Astana, on both the association and corporate sides. We aim to leverage the MICE industry to international standards,

“In three-five years’ time, we would like Astana to be recognised as the natural venue of choice for regional and international meetings and events...”

EME creating a friendly cooperative environment in an attempt to increase our profile on the world stage. And we aim to raise Astana Convention Bureau’s capacities based in line with international standards, positioning Astana and Kazakhstan as a world leader. EMEO: Finally, looking forward, if we were to speak again in three-five year’s time, what progress and development would you hope and expect to be able to report back? HM: In three-five years’ time, we would like Astana to be recognised as the natural venue of choice for regional and international meetings and events, with Astana Convention Bureau having established itself as a professional and experienced institution. Astana is an exciting tourist and MICE destination that provides international travellers, organisers and delegates a range of unique combination of local experience in and out of the city, and every visitor feels welcomed and valued.

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A S T A N A

Outlook Recommends “The country’s new capital has risen fast from the northern steppe and is already a showpiece for 21st-century Kazakhstan” – Lonely Planet

HOSPITALITY

Rixos President Astana Hotel Rixos President Astana offers a supremely luxurious holiday experience with its superior quality and excellence in the capital of Kazakhstan. The aesthetic but functional design, elegant rooms, restaurants and bars, as well as its central location, make Rixos President Astana the perfect place for your stay.

Kazzhol Hotel Astana 28

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MUSEUMS

MONUMENTS & STATUES

National Museum of Kazakhstan

Monument to Bogenbai Batyr

President’s Center of Culture and Museum

Abai Kunanbayev Monument

Kazakhstan Military History Museum

Monument to the Soldiers of World War II

BUSINESS EXPERIENCE HOTEL THAT IS BEYOND THE CUSTOMERSâ€™ DREAMS AND EXPECTATIONS

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A S T A N A

Transport Links

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helpful in planning routes and checking times, offering a cheap and convenient way of getting about. Equally, Astana has a significant number of taxi drivers, whilst Uber is also up and running. PHOTO: PASCAL KOBEH

FOLLOWING 1997, THE Astana International Airport underwent significant renovation, overseen by Kisho Kurokawa himself, in order to raise it up to international standards. Further expansions were then completed in time for EXPO 2017 when a second terminal was opened. As a result, passenger traffic was recorded at just short of 4.3 million last year – a 24.9 percent rise on 2016’s figures and more than double the 1.98 million passengers that were recorded in 2011. In terms of navigating the inner streets themselves, the capital’s transport networks are another significant reflection of its innovative structure. Astana Bike Docking stations can be found all over the city, where bicycles can be rented for a daily access fee of T500. Meanwhile, bus routes are well established, running from approximately 6am to 11pm, with a single trip ticket costing roughly T90. The Astra bus app, available to all tourists on smart devices, is particularly

EME

Landmark Attractions Nur Alem

Khan Satyr

“The Khan Shatyr Entertainment Center is designed to provide the city with a range of civic, cultural and social amenities all sheltered within a climatic envelope - ‘a world within’ - that offers a comfortable microclimate all year round, whatever the weather” – Foster and Partners

Baiterek Tower

BY CHELSEAFUNNUMBERONE - OWN WORK, CC BY-SA 4.0

“Lifts glide visitors up inside the egg, where you can ponder the symbolism, enjoy expansive views and place your hand in a print of President Nazarbayev’s palm while gazing towards his palace” – Lonely Planet

Palace of Peace and Reconciliation

“Representing all of the world’s religious faiths, the Palace houses educational facilities, a national center for Kazakhstan’s various geographical and ethnic groups, and a 1,500-seat opera house” – Atlas Obscura

BY NINARAS - OWN WORK, CC BY-SA 4.0

BY ALBERT BERGONZO - OWN WORK, CC BY-SA 4.0

“More than just a museum, Nur Alem is a kind of innovative hub and an important research and cultural centre” – Expedia

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S A R D I N I A

SARDINIA Nicola Pala of the Sardinia MICE Network reveals how its 37 members are collectively transforming the islandâ€™s tourism industry Writer: Jonathan Dyble Project Manager: Ryan Gray

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EME AN ISOLATED ISLAND spanning 2,000 kilometres of coastline, Sardinia is noticeably different to the rest of Italy. Geographically closer to North Africa than the Italian mainland itself, Sardinia is home to some of the most picturesque beaches in the Mediterranean, embodied by the Costa Smeralda with its clear blue waters. The island has endless stories to share, largely derived from its extensive history that consists of years of different invasions, from the Carthaginians to the Romans. As such, there are a range of different cultural influences that can be found right across its shores, from ruins to churches to other architecture. In this sense, there is something for everyone across the island â€“ a characteristic that Sardinia MICE Network has run with during the three years since its foundation. Consisting of 37 member companies that each specialise in the tourism sector, from accommodation operators to transport companies, the network looks to leverage this collective expertise to create new and interesting tourism opportunities across Sardinia. Speaking to EME Outlook, Nicola Pala, the organisationâ€™s Marketing & Strategies Manager, reveals how the non-profit continues to work for better liaison with local institutions and for the improvement of MICE (meetings, events, conferences and incentives) offerings across Sardinia. EME Outlook (EME): Since inception, how has the Sardinia MICE Network developed and progressed in terms of its key objectives and the messages it tries to get across? Nicola Pala (NP): Sardinia MICE Network is the only group representing the interests of the MICE segment in Sardinia, and since foundation, the organisation has proposed itself as an aggregator, promoting Sardinia as an ideal destination for events.

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S A R D I N I A

The network looks to achieve this by submitting coordinated offers to clients whilst maintaining high quality standards and enhancing the identity of the companies belonging to it. Our strategy on this front is driven by a number of things. Firstly, we ensure there is collective coordination of the services offered by the companies belonging to the network, planning and organising promotional activities in relation to the main exhibitions. Equally, from the coordination of B2B workshops to family trips, it is crucial that our members not only work together but collaborate readily with regional and local institutions in executing promotional activities. Communication is something we know is key, both internally and externally. EME: To this end, how would you say the Sardinia MICE Network has developed in recent years as a business travel hub and what are the key reasons behind its growing appeal? NP: Since foundation, the network has been the point of reference for the MICE sector in Sardinia, for customers, for companies and for institutions. Considering each of these three differing entities, it has succeeded in achieving a range of goals to date, largely centred around increasing the number of members associated and fusing strong ties with local institutions. The reason for its growing appeal is that Sardinia MICE Network is different from similar organisations. It brings together all types of services related to the MICE sector, improving benchmarks every day, that allow the network to offer itself as reliable partner and unique referent for any kind of event. EME: Taking a more general industry stance, how would you evaluate the tourism sector in Sardinia now compared to its condition when the MICE Network began?

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Tharros’ ruines

NP: Sardinia has proven itself as a destination of great interest both nationally and internationally. The number of tourists choosing Sardinia has remained stable in 2018 after an increase in 2016/2017. Therefore, Sardinia, traditionally a minor destination for events that is harder to reach, has been able to express a perception of greater security, and today has an extraordinary opportunity to propose itself with greater force in the international MICE markets. EME: What are the core industry trends dictating the Sardinia MICE Network’s investments and initiatives at present? NP: Sardinia has undertaken many actions in the aim of addressing sustainability in recent years, actions that have certainly had positive effects on the development of the MICE segment.

The Municipality of Cagliari received the “Cresco Award” in 2016 for its commitment to sustainable mobility, and in the same year, South Sardinia received the “Europe’s First Sustainable Destination” award for tourism and the environment. This result has been certified by the European Oliena social Commission where a winery project presented by the University of Tourism Economy in Cagliari was awarded ahead of 200 other destinations. Meanwhile, 2016 saw Cagliari named “the best Italian tourist destination”, awarded by the Center for Advanced Tourism Studies of the University of Bologna. The research saw the opinions of over 400,000 foreign tourists

gathered and assessed by the Bank of Italy, all within the last six years. Cagliari was also named as the best European city of sport in 2017 by the Italian National Olympic Committee. EME: What is in store for Sardinia over the course of 2017 and beyond to continue the good work already commenced and to enhance its reputation as a tourism and business travel hub further in the future? NP: During the last few years, Sardinia has achieved several objectives that have improved and consolidated its reputation as an ideal destination for events. Examples

include numerous sporting events of international relevance, which involved several sports disciplines and a total of thousands of athletes. For example, the European Transplant and Dialisys Championship took place in Cagliari in June 2018, where it welcomed almost 500 athletes from all over Europe thanks to support from Sardinia MICE Network. Much progress has also been made on the environmental front, largely thanks to the recent recognition that UNESCO has attributed to the Park of Tepilora, naming it a â€œBiosphere Reserveâ€?, within the MaB (Man and Biosphere) programme.

Parade in Mamoiada

Gallura

EME Finally, it has also recently revised its strategic plan for tourism which envisages the establishment of the DMO (Destination Management Organisation), a body that aims to become the regional coordination and impulse centre for the promotion of tourism products across Sardinia. EME: Finally, looking forward, if we were to speak again in three-five yearâ€™s time, what progress and development would you hope and expect to be able to report back, both in regards to the Sardinia MICE Network as an entity, and in regards to the business travel industry in Sardinia as a whole? NP: We are working to ensure that the network continues to consolidate the results that it has achieved so far, expanding the group through carefully cultivated membership activities. Strategic importance is also represented by relations with institutions, which we are looking to further stabilise. The recognition of the network as a unifying reality and representative of companies in the MICE sector will be the key to creating lasting partnerships that are capable of bringing real changes to the Sardinian tourism industry In the short to medium term, we hope we will be ready for such partnerships thanks to the establishment and launch of the regional DMO and the various collateral partners that will collaborate with it. Acting as a coordinating subject for the promotion of tourism products of the island, the DMO will play a fundamental role in improving the competitiveness of MICE in Sardinia, making the island an ideal venue for events.

Sardinia MICE Network Tel: +39 070 733535 www.micesardegna.it

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Tell us your story and we’ll tell the world. EME OUTLOOK is a digital and print product aimed at boardroom and hands-on decision-makers across a wide range of industries in Europe and the Middle East regions. With content compiled by our experienced editorial team, complemented by an in-house design and production team ensuring delivery to the highest standards, we look to promote the latest in engaging news, industry trends and success stories from the length and breadth of Europe and the Middle East. Reaching a combined audience of more than 395,000 people, EME Outlook covers a full range of industrial sectors: agriculture, construction, energy & utilities, finance, food & drink, healthcare, manufacturing, mining & resources, oil & gas, retail, shipping & logistics, technology and travel & tourism. In joining the leading industry heavyweights already enjoying the exposure we can provide, you can benefit from FREE coverage across both digital and print platforms, a FREE marketing brochure, extensive social media saturation, enhanced B2B networking opportunities, and a readymade forum to attract new investment and to grow your business. To get involved, please contact Outlook Publishing’s Managing Director, Ben Weaver, who can provide further details on how to feature your company, for FREE, in one of our upcoming editions. www. emeou tlookm

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EME ISSUE 27

l’s Mahou San Migue Erik d’Auchamp, a self-confessed beer geek, spearheads r’s brewe h Spanis the h international growt

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ALSO FEATURING:

UMTECHNIK BAUR FORMSCHA S.R.O 00 people and progress

URAL QUALITY ARCHITECT SYSTEMS 00 of architectural

ETMAM LOGISTICS 3PL standard setter

A tight-knit family experts

Saudi Arabia’s

Investing in plants,

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A A F I Y A

T P A

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rtunity

Mahou San Miguel’s Erik d’Auchamp is a self-confessed beer geek. Starting at home with global giant Carlsberg, the Dane has travelled the world and is now spearheading the Spanish brewer’s international growth Writer: Tom Wadlow “It has become far more accessible and sophisticated. Some of the barrel-aged products we are seeing currently I didn’t think were possible two decades ago. In some cases beer is competing with spirits, offering flavours that remind you of the drinks that used to be made in those barrels, like rum or whisky.”

Against the grain

Mahou San Miguel’s Erik d’Auchamp

Astana: Kazakhstan’s

GUIDE 00 BUSINESS TRAVEL new capital

B E E R

Marketi ng Oppo

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Widening the spectrum

Mahou San Miguel’s success is all the more impressive given it comes against the backdrop of a fairly flat European beer market in terms of growth.

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S D U M A G A

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Shaping the

Automotive Having doubled its production capacity in just two years, Baur Formschaumtechnik s.r.o is looking to maintain its rapid rise through major investments and continual expansion Writer: Jonathan Dyble | Project Manager: Thomas Arnold Today I’m in the car for eight hours, driving from the Czech Republic to Bridgend in Wales where I’ll be tomorrow. From there I’m travelling to London on Monday, Abingdon on Tuesday, Cologne on Thursday and then I’m going to be back in the Czech Republic on Friday Morning.” Speaking to Nicholas Gwynne, and his satnav, it is clear that Baur Formschaumtechnik s.r.o (Baur s.r.o.) is moving into both busy and exciting times. Having joined Baur at the end of 2015, then transferring to Baur s.r.o, the firm’s Czech Republic unit, less than a year later during an internal restructuring phase, Gwynne is now playing an integral role in overseeing its transformative regional expansion plans as Jednatel (CEO) of the business. Just two years ago, Baur s.r.o. was producing approximately 90,000 polyurethane part pieces for the automotive industry per week. Now, it is hoped that the Czech Republic operations alone will be producing

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more than one million part pieces per month by 2020. “Having a built a brand-new plant 95 kilometres from our existing site, we began operating there in 2018, largely due to the rising demands for polyurethane parts that we have been receiving from our customers, and due to the expansion possibilities that the new plant allows,” explains Gwynne. “In the short time since, we’ve already doubled our production capacity, and are looking to ramp this up even further moving forward.”

Maximising potential

The automotive manufacturing industry is becoming increasingly competitive by the day, driven by emerging and evolving markets, rising consumer interest in new mobility services and the development of new technologies. In ensuring that it achieves such rapid progress in the face of this competition, Baur s.r.o. has placed significant emphasis on both upscaling with the development of this new plant, but also

upgrading and enhancing its operational efficiencies with substantial investments into new equipment. “We understand that our ambitions are bold, and these have required us to invest in new machines, new technology, and new ways of doing business,” says Gwynne. “Investing in these things, in our people and in the new plant, will allow us to cope with the higher levels of business that are becoming expected from our customers.”

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BAUR FORMSCHAUMTECHNIK Baur Formschaumtechnik was formed as a family company in 1976, courtesy of Charlotte and Reinhard Baur. The firm manufactures formed foam parts from polyurethane, a versatile plastic material that exists in a variety of forms and is utilised in a multitude of different industries and applications. In 2004, the business was sold to Dr David Spitzer, a qualified chemist who became the Company’s new Managing Partner. Three years later, Baur launched its operations in the Czech Republic, named Baur Formschaumtechnik s.r.o – a division that has become crucial in facilitating the Company’s meteoric rise within the automotive manufacturing industry. By 2015, Baur had seen its production area expanded to a total of 30,000 square metres worldwide. In Germany, Baur creates parts for a range of industries, from ski lifts to ventilation systems. Meanwhile, the business also operates in Germany, China, Czech Republic and with corporate partners in the US and Mexico, alongside the Czech Republic.

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HENNECKE GROUP

ased on more than 75 years of experience, as well as a large annual budget for research and development, the Hennecke Group, which has its registered office in Sankt Augustin (Germany), produces highquality machines, plants and systems for all core technologies for the processing of polyurethane (PU). Thanks to intensive research and development work, Hennecke is able to supply innovative technologies with significant economic and ecological benefits, which are oriented to customer requirements in a wide variety of application areas. Today, there are hardly any product ideas in the field of polyurethane processing that cannot be made a reality by Hennecke. T +49 2241 3390 E info@hennecke.com

www.hennecke.com The Company is exploring the use of robotics and automated manufacturing processes across all aspects of the business

The implementation of state-of-theart technologies makes up a major segment of this current investment agenda, with the Company exploring the use of robotics and automated manufacturing processes across all aspects of the business, from its assembly lines, to its stamping processes, to its warehousing. “We have started our first tests with cohabitational robots in the aim that these will eventually play a major role in undertaking our production work,” reveals Gwynne. “Equally, we’re planning on introducing a new warehousing unit that will feature high level racking and automated forklift trucks. “Industry 4.0 is where our focus lies, and will continue to lie, for some time.” Alongside the new plant, the new

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MOULDPRO warehousing unit will be crucial in maximising the business’s productive potential, allowing Baur to maintain a higher level of output on a more consistent basis. At present, Gwynne estimates that it goes through approximately 42 tonnes of raw materials per week, producing 300-500 pallets of finished polyurethane products during this time. Comparatively, the new warehouse will be able to hold 2,634 pallets, offering a multitude of untapped productive benefits. Gwynne adds: “This brand-new high racking warehouse will enable us to compensate for fluctuations in customer requirements and to allow us to produce on a constant basis rather than on an order to order basis, even when we are producing significantly higher volumes.”

ouldPro is one of the largest producers of polyurethane injection moulds and complex injection tooling for the automotive sector in the Czech Republic with more than 20 years of tradition in the industry. The Company focuses on delivering complex tooling solutions to highquality automotive standards for OEM’s and major Tier 1 suppliers as Baur Formschaumtechnik. The Company currently delivers the majority of prototype and production tooling for projects at Baur Formschaumtechnik’s manufacturing plant in Czech Republic. Its partnership has developed since 2014 and MouldPro has become a key supplier and partner for Baur Formschaumtechnik. Adamek Ladislav (Director) T +420 602 77 23 40 E mouldpro@mouldpro.cz

www.mouldpro.cz

MACHINES, PLANTS & TECHNOLOGIES FOR HIGHLY EFFICIENT POLYURETHANE PROCESSING

>> >> >> >>

METERING MACHINES SANDWICH PANEL LINES MOULDED FOAM LINES SLABSTOCK LINES

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With innovative technologies and the widest range of equipment for fascinating Polyurethane products all over the world, Hennecke has been laying the foundation for superior product quality and efficient use of raw materials in all areas of application for over 70 years.

>> COMPOSITES & ADVANCED APPLICATIONS >> TECHNICAL INSULATION LINES >> 360˚ SERVICE

www.hennecke.com

• Production of moulds • CAD design work • CNC programming CAD/CAM

Mouldpro s.r.o Zlín Tř. T. Bati 383 Zlin 760 00 Czech Republic T: +420 602 77 23 40 E: mouldpro@mouldpro.cz

www.mouldpro.cz

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It is hoped the Company will be producing one million part pieces a month by 2020

Staffing excellence

While investing in industry leading equipment will be key to Baur s.r.o’s success moving forward, the firm is equally keen to take a similar approach in helping its staff to excel. Skills shortages have become an increasingly pressing issue in the Czech Republic, not only within the national manufacturing industry but on a much broader scale across all sectors, largely due to an unemployment rate of less than 2.9 percent. In tackling this, Baur s.r.o has substantially bolstered its talent retention and employment strategies in recent years – a characteristic that Gwynne feels the business can now pride itself on. “I’ve never come across a company in my previous 40 years of working that invests so many resources in helping to train its staff,” he states. “We have set up our own apprenticeship programme and have implemented a tiered matrix system

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in terms of how we pay our people and in terms of how they can progress internally. “If someone joins our company and is lacking skills or experience, there is

room for them to learn and become qualified internally.” Baur’s emphasis on training is evident in a number of ways, from the financing of external programmes for

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Toma-Projekt

Toma-Projekt offers implementation of mold designs for thermoplastics and also includes blanking dies, dies and CNC machining. We also have specialised CAD/CAM software, allowing the realisation of complex orders. Our clients will always be met with full commitment, reliability and the highest quality at an affordable price.

toma-projekt@toma-projekt.pl | 0048 957 554 925

its employees, to in-house language training, where staff have the chance to learn English and German. “We have to be both resourceful and innovative in how we compete to attract the best talent, but we also like to ensure that our workers feel like they’re part of the family culture here,” Gwynne adds. “We help in renting apartments, and we’ve given our workers increasingly generous holiday allowances.”

Realising opportunity

Investment into new technologies, facilities and training are all fundamentally futureproofing Baur s.r.o, enabling it to excel in an increasingly competitive market. The versatility of polyurethane will see it continue to be a key material in the manufacture of automobile parts in whatever way the market moves. However, for Baur s.r.o, recognising any adaptations and positioning itself

accordingly in line with these will be key to ensuring that it remains ahead of the curve. To this end, the firm has been and will continue to monitor industry trends closely, from the emergence of hydrogen and electric vehicles to alterations in current models, whilst also diversifying its expansive product range in new and innovative ways. Gwynne concludes: “We have to ask ourselves, where is the market going? With polyurethane being such a versatile product, there are lots of opportunities for us if we are able to capitalise.”

Baur Formschaumtechnik s.r.o. Tel: +42 0 553 030 608 czech@formschaum.de www.formschaum.de

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A U T O

FA S T E N E R S

Life in the

Fastener Lane Starting out as just an idea and a laptop in 2007, Scott Simpson has grown Auto Fasteners into a professionally established supplier for OEMs around the world Writer: Tom Wadlow | Project Manager: Thomas Arnold

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or a 22-year-old business owner about to enter his second year of trading in 2008, waking up to news that the global financial markets had collapsed may not have been the most welcome of events.  It is difficult enough to build a sustainable business from scratch. Despite the huge numbers of fledgling companies setting up in the UK, statistics show that around eight in 10 of these startups fail inside 12 months. For Scott Simpson and Auto Fasteners, the 2008 crash could quite conceivably have signalled a premature

end to an entrepreneurial dream. However, fast-forward a decade and the firm is now recognised as a tier one supplier of fasteners and specialist small parts for some of the world’s largest vehicle manufacturers. Still based in Simpson’s home county of Warwickshire, in Southam, Auto Fasteners now stands as a £4 million enterprise with a global supplier and customer network, and is currently on target for sales of nearly £6 million in 2019.  “Nothing beats the feeling of seeing your perseverance pay off with an

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order from a globally recognised company,” says Simpson. “Constant communication, travelling the globe for meetings, dealing with rejection – it is all worth it when that deal comes through.”

Humble beginnings

Simpson’s story begins in 2007. Armed with nothing but an idea and a laptop, he set about securing his first customer and through sheer perseverance secured his first order with Jaguar. A part-time venture quickly became

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Tier one supplier to the automotive industry

Auto Fasteners Ltd was formed in 2007. Our initial aim was to satisfy the demand from automotive OEMs for a more flexible and cost effective approach to the aftermarket supply of fasteners. This has since developed into a global supply service of fasteners and small parts for aftermarket and serial production line for both passenger cars and commercial vehicle OEM manufacturers and their 1st Tier supply chains. The Automotive Aftermarket Challenge The automotive aftermarket was seen as a difficult and complex area with often unpredictable and long term needs for product to be supplied often in both individual component and kit form. The large multinational fastener manufacturers supplying the OEM and 1st Tier production lines consistently fell short of meeting the specific needs of aftermarket supply. Auto Fasteners saw unreliable volume predictions, stockholding, kitting often including 3rd party product, bagging, branding and labelling all causing problems for companies better suited to high volume scheduled production. This often resulted in poor service quality and a high cost of aftermarket supply which negatively impacted on the OEMs reputation and vehicle residuals. The AFL Aftermarket Solution The Auto Fasteners solution was simple, to move the supply chain away from the large inflexible volume manufacturers to smaller more flexible manufacturers then manage them through a central quality, stockholding and distribution centre. By being able to multi-source globally costs were

kept down and through central management service levels increased significantly. The solution was simple, elegant and effective. AFL Small Parts & Serial Production Line Supply Auto Fasteners now benefits from working with some of the Worldâ€™s leading automotive manufacturers of both car and commercial vehicles. From initially supplying only fasteners, Auto Fasteners have expanded into supplying a wide range of other small components and sub-assemblies. Now with a proven and established high quality global supply chain, Auto Fasteners is now actively supplying direct to automotive OEM serial production lines as well as aftermarket supply. The Future Of Auto-Fasteners Ltd Auto Fasteners is going from strength to strength with carefully controlled expansion to ensure quality of product and service is maintained at all times. The business model has proven to be a major benefit to Auto Fasteners OEM and 1st tier customers. They are able to reduce the number of suppliers, reduce cost and improve service whilst still maintaining the highest quality standards. The UK warehouse, logistics and quality control centre has grown significantly in recent years, yet by using the latest technology and IT systems overheads have been kept to a minimum and service levels improved. The future looks very good for Auto Fasteners as we continue to tackle our customers most difficult supply challenges and provide them with fast and effective solutions.

Phone: +44 (0) 1926 814600 Fax: +44 (0) 1926 813575 enquiries@auto-fasteners.com

www.auto-fasteners.com

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F A S T E N E R S

TODAY’S AUTO FASTENERS Based in Southam, UK, Auto Fasteners sources, inspects, stocks, packages and distributes automotive engineered fasteners, small parts and components. a full-time occupation, and within six months more customers were being added to the books. By the end of year one, Auto Fasteners had conducted £38,000 of business, with Simpson still the sole employee.  “I started the business from the corner of my spare bedroom,” Simpson says. “I thought, given the fact this was a small volume niche, that I could do this in my spare time to earn some extra money. “Half a year later I had picked up a couple of new customers and found myself devoting all of my energy into

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This product range comprises metal and plastic fasteners, engineered small parts, kitting and assemblies, with additional services including quality control and inspection, stock management, CAD design, international logistics and customer-specific product packaging. The Company’s work is defined by three core principles – highly flexible, highest standards of quality and competitiveness.    Thanks to this three-step philosophy, Auto Fasteners is able to provide a highly responsive service to its automotive customers. Among its customers are leading industry brands, including Volvo Group, Renault Trucks, Mack Trucks, Scania, Ford Motor Company, Opel-Vauxhall, Jaguar Land Rover, Volkswagen Group, Volvo Cars, PSA Groupe, General Motors, Daimler, Aston Martin, Bentley and Cummins.

Auto Fasteners operates out of three adjoining warehouses in Southam, UK

it. I remember storing parts in my wardrobe, packing them in the living room and delivering them on my lunch break to the customer.”

Foot on the accelerator

A lack of social life would characterise the next two years of Simpson’s life. As more clients came on board and supplier networks established, the owner found himself operating on an almost 24/7 basis in order to accommodate Asian and

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Scott Simpson has gone from storing parts in his wardrobe to becoming a professional supplier of OEMs around the world

American time zones. The devotion to the task reaped rich reward as, despite the onset of the global crash in 2008, Auto Fasteners enjoyed unprecedented expansion, morphing into a fully-fledged business in terms of sales and company assets. “The major break came when I secured contracts with a supplier to Ford and GM in America,” says Simpson. “I went over to Detroit to visit the customer, and the business snowballed

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F A S T E N E R S

“We are growing steadily year by year, and our new custom-built site will provide the space we need to continue to grow and expand into the future”

from there – all of a sudden, we were supplying North America. “For me this is one of my biggest achievements, for a small company to be supplying a US giant, and now directly to several OEMs. There are far larger companies out there turning over tens and hundreds of millions a year who cannot say that. “It has all been about persistence. We are now supplying directly to Ford Motor Company, for example, and that has taken eight years to materialise. These types of companies are reluctant to add more suppliers, and new

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suppliers go through an extremely rigorous audit process – you really have to sell and prove yourself to them.” Auto Fasteners moved into its first premises and put £20,000 towards renovating it in 2009 in what was another milestone event for the business. “At this point it was still just myself,” Simpson adds. “I was quoting, purchasing, paying suppliers, doing deliveries, packing, quality inspection and everything else that goes with it.”

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“My main responsibility now is to bring in new business and to keep in touch with clients to make sure they are happy... My amazing team handles the rest”

The Company’s first hire was made in 2010, allowing Simpson greater freedom to concentrate on selling his product, maturing his supply chain and driving further growth.   “I was getting deliveries piled up in my back garden, so I rented out a patch of office and warehouse space from a local water cooler company. I spent a couple of months there before the warehouse renovation opportunity arose in 2009. “I didn’t socialise for

three years, slept on a camp bed at my Dad’s house while renting out my own property – I lived and breathed the business.”   This unrelenting activity saw Auto Fastener’s year two revenue jump more than twentyfold to around £770,000, all achieved against a backdrop of a recession economy, and with only two employees.

Containment

Today, Auto Fasteners comprises a team of 11 people based in Southam. Three adjoining warehouses form

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the nucleus of £4 million of annual business, with parts shipped to customer plants to more than 25 different countries around the world. Simpson is currently in the process of purchasing a new plot of land, also in Southam, that will house a new custom built 35,000 square foot warehouse, three times the 12,000 square feet of space currently at the Company’s disposal. “Not only are we adding new customers to our list, but we are also winning new business with our existing customers and those who we have been with since the beginning,” Simpson says. “We are growing steadily year by year, and our new custom-built site will provide the space we need to continue to grow and expand into the future. “We are continuously investing

AFTERMARKET = BIG BUSINESS For automotive manufacturers, aftersales services represent a vital series of revenue streams that they cannot afford to be without. Indeed, according to a 2010 report by French consultancy giant Capgemini, in Western Europe during a typical 15-year lifespan of a car, only 37 percent of the total revenue an OEM receives can be attributed to the initial sale of the vehicle. The aftermarket offers a major opportunity to drive profits by maintaining customer loyalty beyond the upfront sale. Worldwide, the automotive aftermarket was worth $335.23 billion in 2016, with steady growth expected through to 2025. The UK market in particular is thriving. A study by Frost & Sullivan found in 2017 it turned over £21.1 billion, supported more than 345,000 jobs and contributed £12.2 billion to the country’s economy. By 2022, the UK automotive aftermarket is expected to be worth £28 billion. Auto Fasteners plays a keep role in the smooth and efficient running of many OEMs thanks to its reliable provision of fasteners and spare parts on demand as and when they are needed. Further, these parts are often needed in different packaging or supplied as specialised kits, made up of components from several different manufacturers. This is where Auto Fasteners and its flexible setup come to the fore.

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EME Persistence pays off

Auto Fasteners is looking to move into a new 35,000 square foot facility to accommodate future growth

back into the business to keep moving forward. For example, we are in the process of obtaining the German automotive standard VDA 6.2. We will be one of only two fastener companies in the UK to have this accreditation and this will allow us to further develop our relationships with our German customers, such as VW, Audi, Mercedes etc.”

This begs the question of how far Simpson wants to grow Auto Fasteners. Despite the temptation to keep his foot firmly down on the pedal, he also recognises the need to stay true to the business’s founding principle of flexibility. After all, the success of Auto Fasteners to date is grounded in the fact it is nimble enough to navigate the nuances of the automotive industry.

From a start-up moving headfirst into a global recession just a year after opening its doors for business, Simpson may not have imagined that 10 years later he would be in the enviable position of deciding how much to constrain his ambitions for growth. Auto Fasteners’ story is a testament to its founder’s refusal to lie down, an example to all budding business owners of how to navigate successfully through organisational growing pains and an unfavourable economic climate. For Simpson, importantly, his relentless work in the Company’s early years has allowed him to regain a work-life balance that works both personally and professionally. “My main responsibility now is to bring in new business and to keep in touch with clients to make sure they are happy,” he says. “My amazing team handles the rest. I will admit it has been hard to let each responsibility go, but I now enjoy a more balanced life and am as passionate about the Company as I was when I started it”. Simpson signs off with some sound advice for others who may find themselves in the position he was a decade ago. As with Auto Fasteners as an entity, there are simple principles he holds as key to ensuring success. “The first is to persevere,” he states. “This has been my biggest challenge in getting to where we are now. Continuous perseverance.   “This has to be backed up by endless research and ensuring you know your market inside out. Combine this with absolute passion, and you won’t go far wrong.”

Auto Fasteners Tel: +44 (0) 1926 814600 enquiries@auto-fasteners.com www.auto-fasteners.com

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E T M A M

LO G I S T I C S

Driving Through a Gap in the Market Formed in 2016, Etmam Logistics is the long-standing Shahini Groupâ€™s latest venture that seeks to provide first-class 3PL services across Saudi Arabia Writer: Tom Wadlow | Project Manager: Richard Thomas

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s Saudi Arabia seeks to diversify its economy away from a near total dependence on oil exports, the country is increasingly evolving into a regional trading gateway. The likes of retail, ecommerce and healthcare are among the industries fuelling this diversification, and with it crucial infrastructure development covering roads, ports, rail links and airports to help such sectors deliver their respective goods. This is therefore an exciting time for KSA’s logistics industry. In 2015 it was worth $19 billion and is set to play a vital part in the country realising its plan for the future, Vision 2030, which sets out to decrease dependence on oil and emerge as a leading transhipment hub. Food distribution is one of the most important segments within the Saudi logistics market and has been the staple business of family-owned Shahini Group, set up by Shaikh Abdulaziz Shahini in 1965. In 2016 the decision was made to establish a separate third party logistics (3PL) enterprise, a company which now operates as Etmam Logisitcs and is run by General Manager Samer Shahini, Shaikh Abdulaziz’s grandson. “Founding Etmam was driven by the gap we saw in the market for quality third party logistics providers and the need that the Group has for its own expansion geographically,” he states. “My journey started much earlier. I have been working with the family since 2003, joining the ladder from its very lowest rung, working on the ground with workers and drivers, knowing exactly how they feel and what the difficulties and challenges are.” Shahini worked his way through the ranks, becoming a key part of the supply chain team and using his technological education to improve the Group’s ERP and other IT systems.

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E T M A M

L O G I S T I C S

PLATTENHARDT + WIRTH

lattenhardt + Wirth have specialised in cool room construction since 1965 and have advanced to become the market leader in this sector. We plan and realise your projects across Germany, throughout Europe and worldwide: • Pass-through cooling facilities • Hygienic production rooms • Industrial and commercial construction • Deep-freeze storage • Doors and gates In 2015 we built cooling and deep-freezer rooms for the Shahini Group, spanning approximately 45,000 square metres. Your benefits with Plattenhardt + Wirth: • Our own personal and competent service • Our own specialist planers • Our own specialist installation and service team

Etmam Logistics has the capacity to handle 38,000 pallets at its distribution centres

Having been promoted to a leadership role within the logistics arm of the business, he was assigned the role of General Manager of Etmam upon its formation.

End-to-end

Currently the firm has warehouses in seven locations spread across Saudi Arabia, with the two most significant distribution centres based in Jeddah and Riyadh. This equates to a capacity to handle more than 38,000 pallets, a process carried out by its 400-plus staff who have access to an advanced warehouse management system that provides real time inventory updates. “What makes us unique and different from others is that we appoint the best people and recruit stand-out talent, all the while investing in the most advanced technology,” Shahini says. “Further, our locations are all geographically strategic, and we offer

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flexible, customer-centric services that are tailored to meet our clients’ diverse needs and add value, save costs, or increase their efficiency and productivity.” By staying flexible and listening to partners, Etmam Logistics has finetuned its service to offer a full range of logistical and supply chain solutions. This includes warehousing and inventory, transportation and customs clearance, as well as on-site logistics management. Indeed, Shahini prides the business

on its ability to offer an integrated onestop-shop answer to clients’ needs. “With the quality of our people, our expertise, our assets and our strong network, we handle our customers’ end-to-end logistics, simplifying the process and minimising hassle,” he adds. One vital area of food transportation that Etmam specialises in is the cold chain. This area of logistics is big business in Saudi Arabia, the country accounting for 35 percent of the entire GCC market for these services.

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Cold storage and industrial buildings Your best choice partner for your business Specialist in cold room construction since 1965. Market leading in strategy and execution with Europe.

Plattenhardt + Wirth GmbH GERMANY D-88074 Meckenbeuren-Reute Tel. +49 (0) 7542-9429-0 Fax +49 (0) 7542-9429-36 info@plawi.de Â· www.plawi.de

www.plawi.de

Leading Regional Turnkey Industrial Contractor with Design-Build Capabilities

Over a quarter of a million square meters of cold storage facilities constructed across the GCC AMANA CONTRACTING GROUP ACROSS THE GCC

T: +971 4 885 4449 | F: +971 4 885 9010 W: www.amanabuildings.com

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L O G I S T I C S

“With a large fleet of vehicles and truck capacities ranging from four to 26 tonnes, we can serve our clients as per their needs,” Shahini continues. “We also have access to a network of 2,000-plus vehicles. “Asides temperature control, our vehicles are equipped with advanced live vehicle tracking systems, engine status, door open/close activity and other measures to monitor the entire operation, which can be accessed through our website.”

Staying in pole position

Maintaining such a modernised operation requires almost constant investment, Shahini explaining how the Company has recently upgraded its main distribution hub in Jeddah. “To stay at the forefront, we must keep abreast of the developments in the industry,” he says. “That is why we have renovated our major facility. Now it is equipped with advanced refrigeration systems, a temperature controlled staging area, automatic temperature log, advanced dock leveller and racking system. “We have two systems to run the Company’s operation smoothly – SAP’s ERP system and Infor’s warehouse management system, a powerful programme that adapts to any client requirement.” Beyond this, Etmam is also looking into the possibility of fitting out its warehouse roofs with solar panels, working closely with an industry specialist. The firm is also working on methods to recycle grey water that is being used in its evaporative condensers. In terms of staying abreast of key trends, one major industry development Shahini is keeping his eye on is the rise of online retail in Saudi Arabia. Research body Statista estimates 2018 ecommerce revenues will hit $6.36 billion, a figure set to rise by 11.3 percent a year to $9.75 billion by 2022.

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With a large fleet of vehicles and truck capacities ranging from four to 26 tonnes, we can serve our clients as per their needs”

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More than two thirds of Saudi’s will be buying online by this time, with popular product categories expected to include toys and DIY. For Etmam Logistics, this presents a lucrative opportunity to support the growth of online retailers, with Shahini pointing towards increasing use of automation as a means of processing optimal fulfilment services for consumers. Whether supporting local Saudi retailers or international sellers doing

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business in the country, the General Manager is excited by the opportunities that lie ahead, especially considering the role KSA may have to play in the wider region’s logistics setup. Commenting on his priorities for the future, he concludes: “There are a countless number of opportunities, especially under the Saudi vision 2030, focusing on logistics industry making Saudi Arabia a Middle East hub for cargo coming from east or west. “Currently we are assessing a

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number of opportunities that match our vision and are scaling up our business in order to serve our clients better and faster.”

Etmam Logistics Tel: +966 114 994 555 info@etmamlogistics.com www.etmamlogistics.com

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THE TRANSPORT TRANSFORMER Having successfully restructured its entire business model, Dumagas now stands proud as a transportation services leader in Romania Writer: Tom Wadlow | Project Manager: Richard Thomas

espite clear and obvious challenges, Eastern Europeâ€™s logistics industry recovered during the course of 2017. Specifically, research body Transport Intelligence highlighted Romania as a market showing particular promise, its road freight sector alone expected to grow by â‚Ź1 billion between 2018 and 2020. Romania is seemingly shielded from some of the unfavourable conditions facing the wider continent, be it staff shortages or lagging investment in infrastructure, and companies like Dumagas are playing its part in ensuring the sector continues to develop strongly.

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The transport pioneer has been particularly successful in attracting and retaining skilled employees, which for CEO Mircea Vlah are the Company’s most valuable assets. “Dumagas Transport S.A. holds the highest expertise in managing trucks and drivers in Romania,” he says. “This represents a high-value asset nowadays as drivers are hard to find and manging a low margin business becomes heavier for all transport companies.” Operating a fleet of 200 owned and 200 subcontracted trucks alongside a 5,000 square metre low temperate warehouse, Dumagas generates 80 percent of its revenue from full truck load activities and 20 percent from logistics. Such services include transportation of general cargo, car carriers, industrial

gas tankers (argon, nitrogen, oxygen) and low temperature warehousing and distribution of food. “We operate with modern processes and procedures which allow us to have an exceptional control of operations and take quick action to change course and improve results month by month,” Vlah adds. “Everything is managed by our ERP system, which is set up with realtime management dashboards for revenues, costs and results estimation by truck and by fleet.”

A company transformed

In getting to this point, Vlah and Dumagas underwent a significant transformation process to ensure its financial longevity. “My first objective was to stabilise operations, avoid financial collapse

and restructure the Company from an entrepreneurial basis to corporative model,” Vlah explains. “This transformation happened from March 2014 until June 2016. “This involved becoming transparent about results and figures – all operational teams and middle management started to get access to our results each month. We also started to measure performance by truck and by department, day by day, and discuss internally how to improve it.” Such trucks have been subject to a sweeping upgrade programme, a four-year plan designed to completely refresh its fleet and ensure it is among the most modern on the market. “We constantly look for new technology to reduce fuel consumption, to monitor and improve

DUMAGAS – THE STORY SO FAR Dumagas began life as a family firm in 1996, its core activity being gas distribution services. In the ensuing years the Company diversified into road freight for other specialised industries such as food and car carrying, before selling a 50 percent share to British investor Bancroft Private Equity in 2010. This became a 100 percent stake in by the end of 2013, with Vlah arriving the following year to lead an organisational restructuring, a process which lasted until 2016. Today Dumagas operates out of its HQ in Craiova and operations office in Turda, with X-docks in Cluj-Napoca, Brasov, Timisoara, Bucuresti and Bacau.

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Your speedy driver for quality tyre supply

Mircea Vlah, CEO, Dumagas

operational performance, and to adapt communication and telematics measurements,” Vlah adds. “We only operate new tractors that are less than four years old. Three years ago, we launched a carbon-free programme by offsetting our carbon footprint for the entire fleet.” Another focus has been on cash flow. Whether it be tightening up payment terms or improving visibility of the collections process with customers, Dumagas has been able to improvement its financial standing regarding cash in the bank.

The final component of Vlah’s transformation plan, and arguably the most important, involved boosting investment in Dumagas’s employees. “We invest in people and have developed a culture of communication and work which is hard to find in similar companies from the same

T +40 374 46 00 30 | E info@pneumaxx.com | office@pneumaxx.ro www.pneumaxx.ro | www.pneumaxx.com

industry,” he says. This has helped harness a promotion from within ethos, with all management appointments being initially looked at internally before searching for outside candidates. Once on board, staff are offered extensive opportunities to train and develop. “Over a one-year cycle we try to cover each full-time employee with 52 hours of training both ‘at-the-desk’ and externally,” Vlah continues. “There is a teamworking element that bounds our team together and gives supplementary motivation, and this was one of the key ingredients which saved our company from insolvency. I am grateful to my team

for their outstanding performance which today gives us the chance to talk about future plans and sustainable development.” Indeed, a settled and motivated workforce will only serve to carry Dumagas forwards into the next chapter of its story. For Vlah, expansion into new markets is very much on the radar. He concludes: “In three to five years’ time I should be able to report a steady growth of company revenue, profit and equity value. I want is to drive overseas extension in the EU and beyond EU borders and extend into air, ocean and multimodal transportation.”

Dumagas Tel: +004 0251 339 431 transport@dumagas.ro https://dumagas.ro

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A R C H I T E C T U R A L

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Powering Projects from Start to Finish Thanks to its comprehensive expertise built up across numerous architectural disciplines, QAS is able to cater to bespoke client needs and continues to produce spectacular results Writer: Tom Wadlow | Project Manager: Tom Cullum

ot many international companies founded in 2005 can claim to be made up of the same staff who have been with them since day one. From financial crashes through to the explosion of new technologies and unparalleled levels of global interconnectivity, the past 13 years have seen the makeup of organisations around the world change drastically. Arrow in on the GCC construction industry and the testing market conditions of recent years, and the likelihood of recording a near zero staff turnover is all the more slim. Dubai-based Quality Architectural Systems (QAS), however, has achieved this feat. Formed in 2005 during the construction boom period, Director Damian Pollard and his team saw a market for premium systems, a market which could be tapped into through offering exceptional service and client support. “The key strength of the business is our staff, who have been with us from the start and remained committed and motivated,” Pollard says. “This gives us experienced and qualified personnel who understand the system requirements and marry this to the architectural requirement of the client.

“QAS is a small, tightly knit family and recruitment is an unusual event – we have grown organically and will continue to do so, expanding our core facility only through known individuals that we know will fit the team.” With a stated aim to deliver an optimal contribution to the realisation of first-grade architectural ideas, QAS has emerged as a one-stop-shop solution for clients, able to see a project through from start to finish thanks to its wealth of expertise which has only been added to since 2005. Pollard continues: “The major gap we identified early was that we relied on structural components given to us by the client or contractor, so we introduced this structural engineering capability and can now provide additional value service. As the structure supports our façade, we

are able to combine the elements and provide economical solutions for our clients. “We prefer to provide solutions rather than try and sell something which doesn’t work for the client – usually they come to us as we’re not trying to pull something ‘off the shelf’, and although we do have such systems our priority is the client’s requirements.”

Hallmarks of quality

Such clients are based in numerous regions around the world, served by QAS’s network of offices and partners. While the Dubai base looks after the MENA region with a separate area manager based in Saudi Arabia, the firm can also draw on presence in the form of an office in India and partners in Russia, Southeast Asia, Korea, the UK and other European countries. In seeking new business, QAS is able to utilise an established portfolio that showcases its commitment to quality. For Pollard, the Muscat International Airport control tower stands out as the Company’s greatest achievement to date.

Jameel Arts Centre

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“I regard this project as the epitome of what QAS can achieve,” says Pollard. “Not one piece of steel or aluminium support had to be modified on site, not a single panel had to be replaced due to incorrect production, and we managed a process which involved components from Holland, South Africa, and locally fabricated elements in the UAE. “These were all produced and shipped to Oman to be installed by a third party, whom we provided an ‘IKEA’ type instruction manual and who never once had to recourse to us for further guidance.”

Project pride

Dubai Creek provides the backdrop for what Pollard describes as his personal favourite project. Currently under final handover, the Jameel Arts Centre is exclusively the product of AFS International’s

PROJECT FOCUS: MUSCAT INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT Pollard explains how this project in the Omani capital drew on all of QAS’s experience and expertise: “The architect required an enamel finished steel panel. The contractor had attempted to provide a four-millimetre bond system as the proposed steel structure was inadequate to take the load of the enamel panel, and after many months of wrangling came to QAS to provide the solution. “QAS created a new panel by taking the enamel outer skin from our partner in South Africa, VITREX International. We then grafted this skin onto our Dutch sister company’s (AFS International) Q-Premium honeycomb system, to reduce the weight of the system, on the structure. “We then completely re-designed the secondary and structural support system, everything from the concrete core to the external face of the cladding, multiple extrusions and steel – the enamel panel was curved and also in some situations twisted to create the impression of a flower. “The enamel was also an issue as the usual enamel panel has a gloss level in excess of 80 percent, which would blind pilots landing at the airport. So, we spent three months in design and development with VITREX to get the appearance desired by the architect with gloss level below 30 percent to ensure pilot safety.” Control tower at Muscat International Airport

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CENTRIA innovations in architectural metal wall and roof systems are helping building teams around the world envision metal as the future of the building envelope. From inspiration through installation, CENTRIA provides the highest level of expertise including service and support from a trained, expert representative. Our metal architectural systems are the perfect combination of science and aesthetics, offering advanced thermal and moisture protection technology, the broadest spectrum of design options, truly integrated components, and superior sustainability.

Contact CENTRIA at 1.412.299.8122 or visit www.CENTRIA.com.

Q-Premium system, designed in Dubai by QAS and supplemented with daily on-site support to ensure its faultless installation. The building is designed as a series of boxes of varying dimensions that are bound together by a one-storeyhigh colonnade, offering a mix of smaller intimate exhibiting spaces and larger galleries. “This demonstrates what can be achieved by proactive hands on support with the façade installer, main contractor, architect, client and supplier together,” adds Pollard. “The quality of the installation speaks for itself.” Pollard also points to the project’s full compliance with UAE fire safety code, an accreditation which involved close collaboration with local partner Hamdan Al Muheiribi and Dubai Civil Defence. Slated to open in winter 2018, the 10,000 square metre, three-storey Jameel Arts Centre will be one of the first contemporary art institutions in the city,

providing a vibrant platform for artists and creatives to exchange ideas and showcase work to the community.

Looking ahead

The QAS project pipeline also looks promising when peering into the future, with Pollard highlighting multiple developments which the firm is set to play a leading part in executing. “We are very excited about a new partnership with US global façade manufacturer CENTRIA International, whom we now represent in the MENA region and the sub-continent,” he reveals. “Partnering with such a huge player gives us the strength and flexibility to service a much wider scope of works. We are looking at over 50 projects with CENTRIA and hope we will secure a significant proportion of this work.” QAS further secured a contract on the Bayt al Fan project in Jeddah, another

arts centre, this time spanning 7,500 square metres. Once again this will draw on the Company’s proven partnership with AFS International, the two working in conjunction to create a purpose-fit cladding solution for the building. Pollard also wants QAS to continue its geographical expansion, identifying the African continent as a region primed for development. He concludes: “In three to five years’ time I would like to see the Company with permanent offices in the KSA and East Africa in addition to the Dubai Facility, and our presence expanded significantly into East Asia.”

Quality Architectural Systems Tel: 04-8810624 info@weareqas.com www.weareqas.com

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Design’s

Global Superpower Director Mathieu Meur explains how Singapore’s DP Façade is able to draw on the expertise of nine other business units spread across multiple architectural-related disciplines and territories Writer: Tom Wadlow | Project Manager: Tom Cullum

açades, perhaps contrary to popular opinion, serve a far greater purpose to a building than providing an attractive frontage. In an age where the popularity of green buildings is booming, the need for a façade to boost performance in energy efficiency as well as differentiate aesthetically from others in ever-busier skylines is more pressing than ever. Add in the indispensable element of a building’s safety, and it is no surprise that the global demand for façade expertise is expected to reach $337.8 billion by 2025. This figure, produced by Grand View Research, represents an annual growth rate of more than seven percent, driven by the demand for sustainability and cost-effective

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heating and air conditioning systems. Another striking observation is that Asia Pacific dominates the façade sector. In 2016, the region accounted for 30 percent of revenues thanks to growing construction of commercial and industrial buildings in the likes of China, India and Southeast Asia. DP Façade, headquartered in Singapore, could not be better situated to take advantage of and influence this exploding market. As one of nine specialist units operating under DP Architects, its origins can be traced back to 1967 when Design Partnership (DP) set up shop as a small architectural practice just two years after the country achieved independence.

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IMAGE: RORY DANIEL COURTESY OF DP ARCHITECTS PTE LTD

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VALUATE “I WANT TO E ND MY DESIGN A N CONSTRUCTIO T ON R F P U DETAILS TER S AND TAKE FA ED WELL-FOUND DECISIONS”

OUR ANSWER : THE AVALON VIRTUAL REALITY EXPERIENCE

TOGETHER FOR BETTER

Step into a building that doesn’t yet exist. A building that’s still in the design phase. Yet you’re standing right there. Take in every detail. Experience and evaluate spaces with your construction partners standing right behind you. All in the same virtual world. You can consult one another. Adjustments can be made in real time. All in your design. All at the Reynaers Campus.

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Aluminium systems for Windows & Doors, Sliding Systems, Curtain Walls, Sunscreening and Solar integration.

The combination of two powerful context components, being the surrounding architecture and mountain views, results in the dynamic and modern shape of this outstanding project, without harming its function. A3 Apartments is organised into five distinct volumes, positioned together as an ensemble to determine the overall final shape. Each of the volumes is outlined with soft and elegant forms, allowing your imagination to run free. For the architect, using high quality materials was very important. Having this in mind, he chose Reynaers Aluminium CW 50 curtain walls and CS 77 windows for the remarkable façade of the project.

REYNAERS AL

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REYNAERS ALUMINIUM

For over 50 years, Reynaers Alumini most iconic buildings in the world. En curtain wall systems have been spec nies.

Hi-Finity Apartment in Nice Architect: Jan Nedvěd Photo: Filip Šlapal

Hi-Finity Apartment Nice The recent renovation of this Reynaers Aluminium is recognised g Nice apartment showcases toAluminium products, you can rest as day’s latest modern solutions. offer industry-leading performance a In order to ALUMINIUM take advantage REYNAERS of the expansive outdoor For over 50 years, Reynaers Aluminium has been designing TOGETHER FOR BETTER terraces andarchitectural breathtaking sea cutting-edge solutions for some the motto. most iconic This of is our We want to be a tr views a 490 cmworld. wide window buildings in the Engineered withoutfabricators, compromise, our range architects and other stak Reynaers Aluminium can realize thehave highest standards and offrom aluminium windows, doors and curtain wall systems been was specified for the living specified time and again by the world’s leading architects and room/terrace area. Because construction companies. of its hidden frame and lack of Reynaers Aluminium is recognised globally for the premium opening apparatus, the system quality of in itssome products. appears sensesWhen vir- you choose Reynaers Aluminium products, you can rest assured tually invisible. Thanks to the that you are choosing a product that will not only lookHi-Finity great, but will also offer industry-leading Reynaers Aluminium CONTACT performance and reliability. system, the border between indoors and outdoors is only apparent inFOR the BETTER case of bad TOGETHER weather, theWe glass walls This is ourwhen motto. want to be a true business partner, sharing areworldwide closed. knowledge with fabricators, architects and other our

stakeholders. With our open and proactive collaboration approach we can realize the highest standards and get the best results in any project, big or small, together.

CONTACT REYNAERS ALUMINIUM THAILAND Telephone: +662 024 6653 Jurgen.Cop@reynaers.com www.reynaers.com

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Koh Seow Chuan, William SW Lim and Tay Kheng Soon established the business with the aspiration ‘to produce architecture that uplifts the human spirit’ at a time when Singapore was in dire need of major infrastructure development. Like the city state over the past 51 years, DP Architects has grown enormously in stature, now operating as the eighth largest architecture firm in the world. DP Façade is dedicated to delivering the highest level of building envelope consultancy, with Director Mathieu Meur providing strategic and technical leadership based on an extensive career as a multi-disciplinary engineer. “I have been in the industry for almost 20 years,” he says. “I have spent most of that time within a large multinational engineering group, starting as an engineer and rising to become the Managing Director for its façade engineering branch.

“After more than five years in this position, during which I more than doubled the size of the company, I decided to move to DP Architects to lead its façade team, returning to a position where I am closer to the design process and to the clients.” Meur’s educational grounding comes in the form of a master’s degree in engineering from specialist science university Ecole Centrale de Lyon. Graduating in 1999, it was at this time when Meur also furthered his passion for underwater art photography, writing five books on the subject.

One Global Studio

Singapore serves as an ideal gateway into Asia, and for DP Façade it is just one of 16 global offices it can draw expertise from. This forms the basis of One Global Studio, something which Meur identifies as a key differentiator for DP Façade and the wider organisation.

Mathieu Meur, Director, DP Façade IMAGE:DP ARCHITECTS PTE LTD

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IMAGE:DP ARCHITECTS PTE LTD

REYNAERS ALUMINIUM’S SLIMPATIO 68 COMBINES OPEN ELEGANCE WITH SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE THROUGH SLEEKER DESIGNS With its new SlimPatio 68, Reynaers Aluminium brings innovative patio sliding window solutions that not only offer even wider views, but also deliver superior air, wind and water tightness Reynaers Aluminium, leading European specialist in sustainable architectural aluminium solutions, has launched its new SlimPatio 68 sliding element to extend panoramic views through creative design features. The elegant flush design with its concealed frame delivers higher wind load resistance through improved sealing technology and supreme comfort. This new product, with its first project realisation at Ithaafushi in the Maldives, features considerable view expansions to assure maximal panoramic vistas by reducing visible lines to the very minimum. Based on its market proven predecessor, the CP 68, visible widths of 110 and 102 millimeters have all been reduced to the SlimPatio’s slim profiles of equal thickness at 34 millimeters; a total reduction of 68 percent. This has further been complemented by its beautiful flush design and a frame that is concealed in the wall cavities; offering elegant symmetrical views at a competitive price. A full height integrated handle has been incorporated in the profile to keep the narrow lines intact. Ensuring comfort and safety In addition to the aesthetic value of the expanded view, SlimPatio 68 also excels in comfort and safety. Outstanding thermal insulation, as well as superb air, wind and water (AWW) performance levels have been achieved as reflected in the following table:

Air permeability - 4 (600Pa) Water tightness - 8A (450Pa) Wind load resistance - B5 (2,000Pa) The SlimPatio 68 with reinforced meeting section can handle wind loads of up to 2,000Pa, which makes this solution ideal for areas exposed to harsh weather conditions such as coastal environments and high-rise buildings. Like the CP 68, the SlimPatio 68 solution offers a wide variety of options varying from a simple, single rail setup to two- and three-rail solutions to allow for much wider openings where this is required. The variety of combinations of fixed and sliding elements allows architects and designers creative freedom. This includes a concealed pocket solution, where the vents disappear into the wall, and a very narrow central closing option with a standard seven millimetre spindle. Vents can reach up to 2,700 millimetres and can support up to a maximum weight of 250 kg; considerably up from the 200 kg and 2,500 millimetres of the standard CP 68. Glass thicknesses of 24 or 36 millimetres are accommodated, delivering an insulation performance of up to Uw 1.2 W / m²K. Willem Naudts, Product Manager for sliding systems at Reynaers Aluminium, highlights the Company’s commitment to continuous improvement to ensure its market leadership in offering superior levels of performance and comfort and a reasonable price. “When we launched the ever reliable CP 68 in 2014 it was designed to bring the superior features of our high end products to within reach of all our consumers. That desire has not changed, and the SlimPatio 68 is proof of our dedication to quality and excellence through innovative design.” T +662 024 6653 E Jurgen.Cop@reynaers.com

www.reynaers.com

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“All this knowledge and skills of DP’s 1,300 employees, which include specialists in multiple disciplines, typology research groups and country experts, are capitalised through its One Global Studio network of 16 strategically located international offices,” he explains. “Functioning as such, we are able to offer localised design solutions based on a common design methodology. “One Global Studio also enables us to take advantage of dispersed time zones for greater productivity and efficiency.

This enables us to deliver the same standard of design quality anywhere in the world – it is the promise of the DP brand and it is what sets us apart from others in this industry.” The companies comprising this global network alongside DP Façade and DP Architects include DP Consultants, DP Design, DP Engineers, DP Green, DP Infrastructure, DP Lighting, DP Sustainable Design, DP Urban and DP Xperience, each carrying its own expertise and contributing to the holistic offering of DP as a whole.

ELVAL COLOUR

lval Colour SA is a leading European coated aluminium manufacturer, standing as a subsidiary of the Elval Group, the aluminium processing and trading division of VIOHALCO. Established in 1977, the Company currently employs more than 200 people at its two manufacturing sites in Greece, each fitted with state-of-the-art equipment that see 98 percent of the firm’s sales exported to more than 70 countries. Elval Colour offers a full range of products and services including coated aluminium coils and sheets for roofing, Orofe®, YDORAL® rain gutters, flashings, roller shutter applications to ELVAL ENF Corrugated sheets, ELVAL ENFTM solid façade cladding and etalbond® composite panels (ACP). Offering such a broad and complete range of products, the Company can meet all building envelope requirements. Further, Elval Colour’s products are offered in a wide range of standard and custom made colours, developed within an in-house colour mixing lab and applied to one of four coating lines to match any requirement. Leveraging this full package of products and solutions, the firm aims to enhance architectural vision by creating innovative and creative architectural spaces. Xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx

At Elval Colour we are very proud of our fruitful co-operation with the globally recognised DP Facades, a Company we’ve worked with on several projects. Specifically, we have successfully offered value added services by assisting the appropriate product specification and selection to best suit the needs of any application, project or design.

T +30 22620 53564 E ecs@elval-colour.com www.elval-colour.com IMAGE: IFAN NAQI COURTESY OF DP ARCHITECTS PTE LTD

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The most advanced aluminium composite panel, with non-combustible core for your building façade etalbond® A2 has been tested according to EN 13501-1 and has received a classification of A2 s1 d0 as a panel. It holds many national certifications as part of a façade system and it is ideal for high rise and high sensitivity buildings. etalbond® A2 is designed to be low weight, rigid and perfectly flat, available in many different highly durable colours.

www.elval-colour.com 3rd Km Inofyta Peripheral Rd., 32011, Saint Thomas, Viotia, Greece, tel: +30 22620 53564, fax: +30 22620 53581 • email: ecs@elval-colour.com | follow us:

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TECHNOFORM Standard and custom designs and materials for a wide range of industries

IMAGE: RORY DANIEL COURTESY OF DP ARCHITECTS PTE LTD

Technoform offers an array of unrivalled tailored and standard engineered plastic solutions for multiple industries across the globe. This spans from thermal edge bond solutions for manufacturers of insulating glass units, a vast range of insulation solutions for aluminium windows, doors and facades for the construction industry, to high-precision custom designs and system components for the automotive, aviation, and electrical engineering industries, just to name a few. Our 14 global production sites and 45 sales offices around the world ensure one of us is always near you to offer the exact matching solution to meet your requirements. Interested to find out more? Let‘s talk!

Within DP Façade, the One Global Studio ethos is reflected by the multicultural feel to the Company’s offices in Singapore and Dubai. The practice’s teams are made up of eight different nationalities and are very close-knit, with employees leveraging their cultural differences as opposed to being hampered by them. Another important component of DP’s ethos is collaboration and knowledge gathering, be it in the form of attending conferences around the world or organising training sessions on the latest design techniques, materials and systems that are being developed. Meur himself is frequently invited to speak at industry-focussed events, most recently in July at the Kuala Lumpur Architecture Festival (KLAF) 2018.

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...the One Global Studio ethos is reflected by the multicultural feel to the Company’s offices in Singapore and Dubai’

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Engineered for performance. Curtain wall system engineered with 1

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improves by >4%

Source: GBIC Project - R&D: Enhanced ETTV and RETV Formulations for Energy Efficient Building Envelopes, 2018

Ensuring sustainability is what we do. Technoform is the world leader in thermal insulation solutions for windows, doors and facades. For over 45 years, we have have helped building owners improve energy efficiency, quality and comfort of their buildings, reducing energy consumption and CO2 emissions.

Some of the services we provide include: - Consultation on design and optimization of the thermal zone in facade systems to meet your performance targets - Support and documentation for the specification of thermal break technology in your windows and facade design

Thermal break1,2 and Warm-edge spacer2 are widely used thermal insulating components in the building sector. Thermal break reduces heat gain through fenestration frames while Warm-edge spacer reduces heat gain through edge of glazing. In addition, our Warm-edge spacer helps to enhance the durability of the glass unit.

Are you designing an energy efficient building facade in the tropics? Letâ€˜s talk! 1 : Green Mark point can be scored for the use of SGBC certified thermal break/insulating profiles to achieve frame U-values of <6.0 W/m2K under GM NRB:2015, 1.3a (Advanced Green Efforts) 2 : Technoform Thermal Break and Warm-edge spacer are SGBC certified

Your asia pacific partner onsite Technoform Bautec Asia Pacific Pte Ltd Technoform Glass Insulation Asia Pacific Pte Ltd 6 Temasek Boulevard, #28-06, Suntec Tower Four, Singapore 038986 +65 6273 9595 | www.technoform.com | enquiry@technoform.sg

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Speaking at the Datum: Green half-day forum which focusses on the latest insights in sustainable design, he shared his thoughts on the disruptive technologies which are helping to shape the future of the façade industry. Meur elaborated on how technological advancement has brought about new design techniques and construction methods that allow for speedier and more efficient façade building. In March, the Director delivered a keynote speech at the World of Façades event in Dubai. Speaking to an audience of more than 400 participants, Meur explained his thoughts on various new materials which will allow buildings to become more energy efficient and sustainable. Such materials include carbon fibre, a lightweight but strong material that surpasses conventional steel, and nano-coated glass, a product that reflects heat back to the source while allowing light to enter the building.

TWO NINE SIX O TRADING

wo Nine Six O Trading Pte Ltd, a Singapore-based Company, established in April 2002, is a leading building materials distribution company, specialising in construction glazing sealant, passive fire-stop systems and mechanical building joint systems. Working closely with its associates, the Company’s extensive operational experience leads and shapes the building industry. The Company’s technical and logistical support has won confidence from its business partners, and today we are serving Vietnam, China, Malaysia, Philippines and Indonesia. The Company provides a full range of façade glazing products and specialty sealants as solutions to make the impossible possible. Not limiting its skills and experience to façade glazing only, joint treatment is also provided. Being a qualified FM approved Class 4991 firestop contractor, with Specified Technologies Inc. [STI], the Company offers simple solution to complex firestopping problems relating to façade and MEP penetrations. Providing technical evaluation for every design scenario using fully tested systems and implementation of strict workmanship inspection regimes, the Company meets international compliance to offer fire-safe environment for building owners, including the insurer. In partnership with GV2-VEDA Xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx France, the firm provides mechanical building expansion joint systems to accommodate standard and seismic movements of façade and structure, which adapt to all types of buildings and desired architectural finishes. Our Mission: We, a Company with trustworthy leading brands for our consumers, endeavour to become our customers’ preferred supplier of choice, pursuing excellence through dedication, innovation and technical competencies with an ongoing passion to deliver the right quality products in a timely manner. Xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx

IMAGES: RORY DANIEL COURTESY OF DP ARCHITECTS PTE LTD

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Beyond its global reach, the other facet which Meur believes sets DP apart, is the Company’s designFIRST ethos, which enshrines a commitment to design excellence. Every project is examined at its inception and scrutinised strictly through critiques and sharing sessions led by design leads and experts of various typologies. “This enables us to ensure that every design and concept carries the vision of DP to promote architecture of excellence,” Meur adds. “Architecture that uplifts the human spirit and experience.”

Track record

Such dedication to excellence is evident in both DP Façade’s and the wider group’s formidable portfolio of projects that has widened over the decades. Meur’s own experience encapsulates this, the Director having worked on many regional landmarks through his career, including Resorts World Sentosa, one of Singapore’s major tourist attractions. A $5 billion integrated resort development, the site spans 49 hectares and is home to seven hotels, Universal Studios Singapore, S.E.A.

PROGRESSIVE PARTNERSHIPS Meur recognises the importance of leveraging expertise from external suppliers and partners. “One of the keys to building strong and lasting relationships with contractors and suppliers is to remain humble, realise that one does not and cannot know everything,” he says. “We have very healthy working relationships with many players in the industry and continually learn from each other. In some cases, we even team up to run research projects or to help improve local regulations. This is the case with Technoform, for instance, with whom we have long been engaged in discussions with local authorities to improve the thermal performance of façades.” Meur goes on to highlight several other key partnerships which have borne fruit for DP Façade in recent times. “For the past few years, I have been involved in the design of the building envelope of a new super-tall residential tower in Mumbai. This type of project raises a number of unique challenges, in particular the very high wind loads, and the increased level of water-tightness required to tackle heavy monsoon rains. Reynaers Aluminium took on the challenge for the tallest tower, over 300 metres in height, designing and supplying the sliding doors and curtain wall. “Working with Seele, an Austrian company specialised in complex façades, we have completed several outstanding and unique projects, such as the Apple Store on Orchard Road in Singapore, which features exceptionally large, free-standing glass panes. “Saint-Gobain was founded almost 500 years ago, and survived throughout this period through continuous innovation, as epitomised by its subsidiary company Vetrotech, with which I have worked on many projects in various countries over the years. Vetrotech covers virtually every kind a glazing project imaginable.”

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SEELE German façade specialist seele in Asia Founded in 1984 in Germany, seele has been realising complex building envelopes all over the world. Already the beginning of seele’s presence in Asia, around 20 years ago, was marked by prestigious projects like the Shanghai Grand Theatre and the Chek Lap Kok Airport in Hong Kong. seele has established itself as the expert when it comes to turning bold façade concepts into reality: Spectacular designs such as the Apple Store in Singapore or the Chadstone Shopping Centre in Melbourne represent the perfect realisation of the most exclusive architecture. The utmost complex all-glass design on the luxury façades of the ICONSIAM shopping mall in Bangkok (opening fall 2018) fascinates with threedimensionally arranged large glass formats up to 16 metres in a single piece. With this project, seele is setting the current technical benchmark for the use of glass as a structural element not only in Asia but globally. Nowadays, there are two permanent seele subsidiaries, one in Hong Kong looking after the sales and operations in the North Asian markets and a second one in Singapore serving Southeast Asia and Australia. seele is proud having cooperated with DP Architects on one of the most intricate projects in Singapore. About DP Façade, an integral part of DP architects, Andreas Geyer, Managing Director of seele Singapore says “it’s always a pleasure to discuss and develop solutions with DP Façade for architectural visions that are challenging far beyond conventional techniques and methods. We both - DP Façade and seele – share the passion for creating lasting value”.

E info.sg@seele.com

www.seele.com

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excellence in glass and steel

Glass as structural element creates stunning icons of architecture. With outstanding building envelopes worldwide seele has grown to the expert in complex all-glass constructions.

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IMAGE: RORY DANIEL COURTESY OF DP ARCHITECTS PTE LTD

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seele (S) PTE Ltd., 101 Thomson Road, #06-01 United Square, Singapore 307591, info.sg @ seele.com, www.seele.com

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VETROTECH SAINT - GOBAIN On the Safe Side Your glazing challenge is our expertise. Our broad range of products deliver solutions for many glazing applications which protect you from threats of fire, attack, ammunition, and explosions.

IMAGE: DP ARCHITECTS PTE LTD

Vetrotech Saint-Gobain’s life-safety, fire-resistant and high-security glass products are suitable for a variety of glazed building applications requiring complimentary protection, while blending seamlessly into the architectural design. Our fire resistant and high-security solutions are subjected to system tests under the most stringent conditions and international safety standards. So you can be sure, because we are. In our commitment to make this world a safer place, we partner with a wide array of regional and international system specialists to provide reliable and certified glazing solutions.

Aquarium, The Maritime Experiential Museum, Dolphin Island and Adventure Cove Waterpark. Elsewhere in Singapore, Meur has been directly involved in the upgrade of Changi Airport’s Terminal 1, part of the international transit hub which continues to receive numerous awards and recognition. For Meur, however, it is in Dubai that his proudest project lies. “Although it was completed almost 10 years ago, I would have to name Dubai Mall, for a number or reasons,” he explains. “The scale of this retail project was unprecedented at the time, and it remained the largest shopping mall in the world for a long period. “The façade was fairly complex and comprised of virtually every single type of system and cladding

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Although it was completed almost 10 years ago, I would have to name Dubai Mall, for a number or reasons”

Our dedication lies at design assisting your project and adapting our solutions. We strive to deliver not just a standard product, but believe in going the extra mile to develop beautiful, multi-functional solutions to fulfill all safety, design, aesthetic and comfort needs. The best example would be our Contraflam Structure which is a fire rated glass that finds application in and as Frameless butt-joint glass partitions. Well, there is more. Please get in touch with us to benefit from our specialist expertise to develop a solution for your next life safety glazing project.

Meur on naming his proudest project Overseas projects are particularly popular

To know more: www.vetrotech.com For enquiries: asia@vetrotech.com

material available, including curtain walls, tension glass walls, architectural precast, aluminium, GRC, enamelled steel, and many others. “More importantly, I was personally and intimately involved in the project from start to finish, preparing the design intent drawings and computations, working very closely with the architectural team to develop the design of the building, and remaining involved throughout the construction period until completion.” It is this intimate involvement that characterises DP Façade’s approach to delivering projects to clients, with the same attention to detail being given to all of its work. This includes the ongoing GuocoLand Beach Road scheme, a new mixed-use development that includes a high-rise office tower, a tall residential tower, a retail podium, conserved listed building, as well as a number of ancillary buildings.

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IMAGE: RORY DANIEL COURTESY OF DP ARCHITECTS PTE LTD

“The project is relatively complex, with a large swatch of façade and cladding systems,” Meur continues. “However, it is its unique features that make this project stand out. In particular, the façade for the office tower is designed to be highly efficient thermally despite its large window-towall ratio, which allows the building to harness a great amount of natural daylight, while minimising heat ingress.”

Also slated for future completion is the Tun Razak Exchange (TRX) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Spanning some 70 acres in the heart of the city, the site is destined to become the focal point for international finance and business flowing through the country. TRX is due for completion in 2019 and will comprise four distinct quarters – the Financial Quarter, Lifestyle Quarter, Park Quarter and Urban

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Overseas projects are particularly popular

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TREMCO & ILLBRUCK

remco & illbruck is a multinational leader in sealing, bonding and coating solutions for the construction industry. The Company’s belief is that it is very often the hidden details that play a crucial role in the success and efficiency of a project. Wherever your life takes you, you will be surrounded by the Company’s products. Its solutions are used everywhere, from window and façade seals to passive fire protection. Driven by sustainability, longevity and efficiency. tremco and illbruck’s building envelope solutions are helping to shape the world of tomorrow.

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Quarter, with the latter three offering the essential work-life balance its users will be looking for.

along, we first need to get to know them, understand their preferences, local capabilities, relevant cultural references, as well as any concerns Expansion or negative experiences the client To date DP has designed all typologies may have had. With this, we are best of buildings – community and sport, equipped to put our creative powers hospitality, institutions, healthcare, to realise their vision.” office, residential, retail and theme park By retaining existing clients and developments to name a few – in more building up relationships with new than 80 countries around the world. customers, DP Façade and the group It is this track record and reputation at large will continue to enjoy its place building which helps the Company among the top 10 largest architectural to grow organically with little or no practices in the world. marketing. Meur outlines his ambition to grow “For new projects, we are frequently out DP Façade’s global presence yet approached by satisfied past clients further, all the while keeping abreast who would like to involve us in new of major industry trends. projects,” Meur says. “Knowing each He concludes: “We have great ambiother is certainly an asset when it tions for DP Façade. Beyond growth, comes to achieving a client’s specific we plan to continue to investigate and vision for a development.” leverage new technologies in order to For new clients, it is all about remain ahead of the competition, and creating an understanding. to showcase our designs in an even Meur adds: “When new clients come more conducive manner.”

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The GCC’s EPC 1

SPECIALIST

883 marked a milestone for global energy, renowned as the year that the solar panel was invented by US inventor Charles Fritts. Installed one year later on a rooftop in New York City, solar panels were quickly deemed to be too inefficient in an era when coal was becoming king across North America. As a result, the solar panel only became a realistic prospect in the late 20th century, largely in line with the evolution of technology and growing concerns surrounding environmental practices. In the years since, it is safe to say that solar energy has become heralded as a revolutionary and renewable resource. According to the World Economic Forum, 70,000 solar panels are expected to be installed every hour for the next five years, and by 2022 the world’s solar energy capacity is expected to triple to 880 GW. Equally, the Middle East is expected to lead the charge within this insurgence. With the renewable energy market in the GCC having reached $2.1 billion this year, these figures are expected to explode, with a forecast market value of $25 billion by 2022. One company set to be key in facilitating this boom is Scan Electromechanical, an EPC specialist that serves both the United Arab Emirates and the wider GCC region.

Catering to a range of market segments, Scan Electromechanical has become renowned as one of the region’s leading facilitators of power and energy Writer: Jonathan Dyble Project Manager: Matthew Cole Wilkin Offering solar PV solutions to a range of clients across different sectors, the firm is helping to both reduce prices and improve reliability.

A one-stop shop

Scan has completed a number of major projects to this end, evident in its work with logistics firm Aramex. Here, Scan successfully completed the largest single-rooftop solar photovoltaic plant project throughout the Middle East, having installed 9,000 solar panels across a 38,000 square metre area at one of Aramex’s flagship storage facilities. Equally, the Company has worked extensively on the sites of the ADNOC Old Headquarters building, installing thousands of solar panels across both the building itself and its associated parking facilities.

Successfully offering end-to-end solutions to its customers, often under pressure from budget and time constraints, Scan Electromechanical has become renowned as a leading EPC contractor, not only within the solar energy segment, but across the wider energy and power industry. Alongside its success in undertaking major solar installation projects, the Company provides equally adept services across a multitude of other segments, from implementing high voltage transmission systems to developing fibre optic cable networks. “We consider ourselves to be one of the market’s best companies for the GCC region when it comes to mega substation installation,” Scan states, highlighting another of its

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specialist areas. “We have expertise in low-voltage, mid-voltage and highvoltage overhead and underground cabling, and also have expertise in the installation of telecommunications infrastructure installation. “Our management and supervisory staff have the experience of installing approximately 600 kilometres of cables from low voltage, 11kV, 33kV, 132kV, control cable and fibre optic cables in the United Arab Emirates during last 20 Years,” the Company reveals on its website. Equally, the same can be said for its products, offering everything from solar panels to smart energy meters. “We are well synchronised with the latest technologies to give our clients the best services.”

In every sense of the phrase, Scan is a one-stop shop for all EPC solutions within the power and energy market across the GCC.

Flexibility and versatility

This diverse portfolio is readily reflected throughout a number of projects that Scan has delivered, alongside its solar panel activities. One such example is the firm’s work with Sharjah Electricity & Water Authority (SEWA). During a recent contract, Scan provided the site development, design, procurement and installation services for three substation facilities. This included the installation of two three-phase 230/13kV transformers and a three-phase 230/69kV, the

implementation of two 230kv high pressure fluid filled underground riser structures, and protection and controls for the entire project and its associated lines, amongst other things. Working with SEWA, Scan’s best-inclass EPC approach allowed months to be cut from the typical project cycle, ensuring that the turnaround time was reduced with maximum efficiency.

SCAN ELECTROMECHANICAL BY THE NUMBERS • Professional technical staff: 719 • Kilometres of cables installed: 277,908 • Substations installed: 4,230 • Electric towers installed: 425 • Solar Panels installed: 14,666 • Commercial vehicles: 204

Scan completed the largest single-rooftop solar photovoltaic plant project throughout the Middle East, installing 9,000 solar panels across a 38,000 square metre area

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+44 (0)113 252 6955 | sales@surasam.co.uk range of market segments that aid its clients’ productivity, value and precision. “At Scan Electromechanical, quality is a major strength,” the Company states. According to Middle East Electricity in its report named ‘GCC Power Market’, the region requires approximately $131 billion worth of investment into electricity generation, transmission and distribution in the next five years alone. With such demand coming rapidly Combined with Scan’s emphasis “Our versatile and experienced team as a result of growing populations, and excellence in upholding leading thrives on all challenges. Our clients expanding economies and climatic global health and safety practices, such have at their disposal the full range of changes in the region, Scan is readily projects have ensured that the Company quality services for successful projects, positioned to capitalise on one of the continues to be a first choice EPC firm. ranging from new system designs GCC’s fastest growing markets. and installations, to upgrades and “Our experience and dedication to Scan Electromechanical Cont. Co. L.L.C excellence and integrity have earned expansion.” us delighted repeated customers year after year and job after job,” Scan Leading the charge Scan Electromechanical states. “We prove to our customers Looking ahead, Scan aims to continue Tel: +971 6 5422773 sales@scanelectromechanical.com that we have the resources the handle to deliver perfectly engineered any job, anytime, anywhere. electromechanical systems across a https://scanelectromechanical.com

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A Regional Go-To for Cancer Care Jordan’s King Hussein Cancer Center recently doubled its capacity to provide leading-edge treatment to one of the world’s most deadly diseases Writer: Tom Wadlow | Project Manager: Callam Waller

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ancer – one of the most highprofile illnesses and second leading cause of death in the world. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that the disease will be responsible for 9.6 million deaths this year, or one in six mortalities. Arrow in on low- and middle-income nations, and you will find that 70 percent of all cancer deaths occur in these countries. There is also an enormous economic impact associated with the condition – the total annual economic cost of cancer in 2010 was estimated at approximately $1.16 trillion, a figure which is rising. In the Middle East, the WHO predicts that cancer cases will double by 2030. If the region, and indeed the world is to tackle this growing threat, then the work carried out by the likes of Jordan’s King Hussein Cancer Center (KHCC) is going to be vital. Established by Royal decree back in 1997, Amman-based KHCC now treats more than 60 percent of all cancer cases in Jordan, with survival rates comparable to anywhere else in the developed world. Developed in collaboration with leading institutions from around the world, the center’s clinical crossdepartmental services cover: breast cancer, gastrointestinal malignancies clinic, adult lymphoma, head and neck, thoracic, gynaecological malignancies, sarcoma, adult neuro-oncology, genitourinary malignancies, thyroid, adult leukaemia, adult ocular oncology, paediatrics solid tumours, paediatric neuro-oncology, and paediatric leukaemia services. Such work will continue to be critical if Jordan is to remain comparable with developed nations in terms of cancer treatment. The disease is the second leading cause of death in the country, with heart disease the only cause claiming more lives. The top three most common cancers

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among males in Jordan are colorectal (colon) cancer, lung cancer and bladder cancer, while the most prolific forms among Jordanian females are breast cancer, colo-rectal (colon) cancer and thyroid cancer. The disease also impacts children in the country. In 2011, 207 cases of cancer below the age of 15 were reported, the most prevalent being leukaemia, lymphoma and brain tumours.

Comprehensive care

KHCC is accredited by the Joint Commission International as a disease specific cancer center, making it the first and only center in the developing world to earn such a distinction. The organisation is led by Dr Asem Mansour, CEO and Director General, and falls under the umbrella of the King Hussein Cancer Foundation (KHCF). The foundation’s Chairperson, HRH Princess Ghida Talal, states in her

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The new inpatient building is fitted with 179 new beds in single occupancy

website message: “At KHCC, it is our conviction that no one should ever be deprived of a real chance for a cure. “Towards that goal, a brand-new expansion to KHCC has opened its doors and will uphold our mission of providing the most advanced care to our patients. Equipped with state-of-the-art technology, this new facility will absorb up to 7,000 new cancer patients annually and offer the most advanced services, including

performing 300 bone marrow transplants a year.” This refers to an ambitious expansion project which opened its doors back in September 2017. Having been stretched to its limit and operating at full capacity, KHCC broke ground on the project in 2011, and is able to accept an increasing number of patients from the GCC and underprivileged countries such as Palestine, Iraq, Syria, Yemen and Sudan. The expansion comprised of a new inpatient tower and outpatient building which combine to effectively double KHCC’s capacity. The former, spanning 13 floors, is fitted with 179 beds in single occupancy rooms, an expanded diagnostic imaging and radiotherapy unit, an expanded bone marrow transplantation unit, adult and pediatric speciality intensive care units, and floors specifically dedicated to pediatric and adult patient wards.

TOTAL SOLUTION TO TOTAL HEALTHCARE Hospital & Patient Room Furniture Solutions

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Anesthesia & Operating Room Solutions

Turnkey Projects

www.emitachealthcare.com

Elekta - Linear Accelerator

Maquet - Modular Operating Theatre

Philips - MRI

PROVIDING WORLD CLASS HEALTHCARE SOLUTIONS

ince its inception, Emitac Healthcare Solutions (EHS) has been MENA region’s preferred healthcare solutions integrator; devoted and dedicated to delivering excellent service and ensuring the highest standards of quality healthcare for its customers. With more than 40 years in the industry, EHS has grown its service offerings, deploying innovative clinical and IT solutions to a varied clientele, from leading government and semigovernment hospitals to private and military hospitals throughout the region. This is complemented by EHS’s expansive market knowledge and partnerships with the world’s leading healthcare and technology providers as they continue to deliver exceptional services. EHS continues to commit to achieving sustainable results for its customers. Combined with professional integrity, this has allowed the business to develop a unique culture of practice through workforce empowerment, process improvement, and technology optimisation, offering customers reliable and cost-effective solutions. Based on an open tender conducted by The Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Foundation, EHS was selected from a pool of eleven companies for its first project in Jordan – King Hussain Cancer Centre (KHCC), which has established itself as the MENA region’s leading cancer centre.

Its world-class technology provides comprehensive cancer care that caters to the needs of adults and younger patients. The Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Foundation announced that it would donate equipment for the expansion of KHCC and chose EHS for the project. “We were determined to receive this opportunity and were selected due to our previous project management experience, outstanding technical and commercial background, and financial stability,” explained Saifudin Mohamed, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at EHS.

Saifudin Mohamed VP - Sales and Marketing

The scope of the project was to supply and install the latest specialised medical equipment in the hospital’s new building, which is designed to accommodate and treat up to 7,000 cancer patients. EHS embarked on the two-year project with its team of highly experienced professionals,

who covered the entire project’s lifecycle; from commissioning to hand-over. The team worked with technology leaders, Phillips, Elekta, and Maquet, to provide the latest equipment across different divisions, including radiology, oncology, pediatrics and operating theatres. Being experts in project management, EHS offered flexible services and delivered the very best healthcare equipment, advanced alternative solutions, as well as training for the hospital’s staff. While the scale of the project presented EHS with a set of challenges, the team thrived under pressure to successfully resolve any complexities. Soud Essa, Head of Projects at EHS, reflected on the experience: “Our team was commended for our strong technical background, organised teamwork, thorough understanding of our client’s requirements and our ability to fulfill them in a set time frame. We see a bright future for EHS in Jordan with emerging opportunities in military hospitals and the private sector.” EHS’s CEO, Wafic Faraj, shared his sentiments towards the partnership, highlighting that KHCC was indeed a milestone for the business: “It was a privilege to partner up with a talented mix of professional customers for a noble cause, dedicated to serving and treating such a huge client base. KHCC will always be a prominent reference site for EHS.”

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Khalid Shoman Educational Center and Auditorium

The 10-storey outpatient building contains the Khalid Shoman Educational Center and Auditorium, which includes a skills lab, seminar rooms, a physician’s library and a social interactive lounge. It also houses dedicated space for women and children alongside a cutting-edge cell therapy and applied genomics department. With the number of new cancer cases set to rise at a higher rate than Jordan’s population growth by 2020, this boost to capacity at KHCC could not have come at a better time.

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Care from the community

...with new cancer cases set to rise at a higher rate than Jordan’s population growth by 2020, this boost to capacity could not have come at a better time”

Another important element to consider is that KHCC is a non-profit organisation that relies on support from corporate, institutional and individual donors to operate. One popular scheme leading to important funding contributions is the ‘Naming and Recognition’ programme, whereby organisations can name a room or area at KHCC in exchange for a donation. In October 2018, the center signed a memorandum of understanding with Electricity Distribution Company, which donated more than $70,000 to name a waiting room.

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KHCC expansion in numbers Officially opened on September 13 2017, the new buildings at KHCC deliver the following capacity:

Number of beds: 179 New cancer cases: 3,500 Inpatient admissions: 7,000 Outpatient visits: 140,000 Bone marrow transplants: 200 Specialised ICUs: 18 Total space: 84,700 square metres

“Every day, cancer patients at KHCC win their battles against this complex disease and go on to live healthy, active and productive lives”

Speaking at the announcement, KHCF Director General Nisreen Qatamish commented: “We are immensely grateful to the Electricity Distribution Company for its strong faith in our mission. “The partnerships being forged through the Naming and Recognition programme are all tremendously

important to us as this programme offers a unique, unparalleled method of support, creating an association between the chosen names and everlasting positivity and hope.” Such support from the community will ensure KHCC is able to provide life-saving treatment to thousands of Jordanians and citizens from other countries across the region. In his message on the center’s website, Dr Mansour writes: “Every day, cancer patients at KHCC win their battles against this complex disease and go on to live healthy, active and productive lives. “This has long been the focus for our center and will remain its focus in the years to come; to make the continual strides needed to ensure the best, comprehensive cancer care to patients of all ages, genders and nationalities.”

King Hussein Cancer Center Tel: (+962-6) 53 00 460 (main building) info@khcc.jo www.khcc.jo

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Aafiya TPA has carved a niche as a first-rate integrated service provider for healthcare management, designed to facilitate high quality provision of health insurance services across the UAE and wider region Writer: Tom Wadlow Project Manager: Callam Waller

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Good Health

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he GCC’s insurance industry is booming. Growing at more than 10 percent a year, the sector will be worth $44 billion if financial advisory firm Alpen Capital’s research is proven correct. Fuelled by rising insurance awareness, economic revival and infrastructure developments and an expanding consumer base, insurance has become big business for both local and multinational companies in the region. Another key growth factor identified by Alpen is the implementation of mandatory health insurance in the UAE, and companies such as Aafiya TPA, set up in 2015, have been able to establish themselves as flagbearers for health insurance provision. Literally translating as ‘good health’, Aafiya describes itself as a hub which connects insurance companies, policyholders and healthcare providers. Its core services include risk management, client management, policy administration, analytics, market research and case management, among others. “While our basic role is to function as an administrator, we understand the need to facilitate cashless service at the time of your medical necessity,” it states on its website. “Aafiya is committed to patient safety and emerges as a trustworthy healthcare facilitator in the region.”

The power of networking

Aafiya’s provision of services to its more than 600,000-strong membership is based around a formidable network of partners. This includes close relationships with leading insurance providers based in the GCC: Takaful Emarat, Noor Takaful, Al-Buhaira National Insurance Co, Union Insurance, Orient UNB Takaful, RAK Insurance, Abu Dhabi National Takaful, Insurance House, Oman Insurance Company, United Insurance Company, National Life & General and Metlife.

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AWARD-WINNING Since being formed in 2015, Aafiya TPA has risen through the ranks to win numerous industry awards. These include: • Best Health Insurance TPA Services Provider UAE 2018 at Global Banking & Finance Review. • Best Health Insurance TPA Services Provider UAE 2017 at Global Banking & Finance Review. • Highly Commended – Claims Management Services Provider at MENAIR Insurance Awards 2017. • Best Insurance TPA Award at Global Business Outlook Awards 2016. • Best Insurance TPA at IFM Awards 2016. • Best Insurance TPA Award at The Banker Middle East Industry Awards 2016. • Best Insurance TPA Award at The Banker Middle East Industry Awards 2015.

Worldwide, the Company’s global network comprises more than 10,000 service providers and a 24/7 call centre, meaning Aafiya services are available almost anywhere in the world 100 percent of the time. Overseas insurance partners include India-based Paramount Healthcare Management and Pakistan’s Crescent Star Insurance. The firm also operates a number of partnerships with leading health and wellness companies in order to offer privileges to its members. From spas and beauty centres to restaurants and nutrition companies, Aafiya members can benefit from these strategic tie-ups which promote healthy living. For example, its Dahab benefits programme offers fast-track approvals, priority access, and a dedicated service team to a personalised relationship doctor, and door to door medicine delivery. Launched in December 2017, the scheme was recognised at the Corporate Vision’s Corporate Excellence Awards with the title of Most Innovative New Service of the Year. Further, members can also take advantage of these promotions and track their own medical insurance on the go in the form of the Aafiya mobile app.

LUX ACTUARIES & CONSULTANT

ux Actuaries & Consultants is an independent international consultancy delivering value through our formal commitment to a global team. Our local presence in multiple locations allows us to provide pragmatic solutions that take account of local markets and the needs of our clients. We enjoy a close working relationship with our clients based on trust, integrity and professionalism as we strive to provide the highest levels of service. We believe that a personal and on-theground understanding of your needs and concerns is important in developing and sustaining long-term partnerships and appropriate solutions to the challenges you face.

www.luxactuaries.com The Company has additionally rolled out smart kiosks at three hospitals in Dubai – the Saudi German Hospital, Iranian Hospital and Thumbay Hospital. These kiosks connect users with customer care services, policy details and BMI calculators, among other things. General Manager Ali Zaidi writes in his GM’s message: “As a brand Aafiya would like to stand for highest quality of medical administration services, backed by revolutionary wellness services... I firmly believe that innovation is the key to achieving sustainability and growth in the long term.”

Building bridges

Beyond its mission to facilitate comprehensive health insurance services to all the sectors of the population, Aafiya also eagerly participates in extracurricular activities as a way of promoting social cohesion within its network.

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In March the Company held a three-day cricket tournament, the Aafiya Premier League (APL), made up of 12 corporate insurance providers

and brokers, with Oman Insurance Company clinching the title after beating Pioneer Insurance Brokers in the final.

Commenting at the time, Zaidi said: “APL has enabled insurance professionals from different companies to engage with each other through the game of cricket. We expect more teams to participate in the future editions for more excitement.” This close-knit network of insurance providers will ensure Aafiya continues to provide unrivalled access to quality health cover in the UAE, GCC and beyond. In addition to its offices in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, Aafiya’s strategic plan revolves around its aim to expand its presence to other parts of the UAE as well as other countries in the region, including Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait and Kazakhstan. Bearing in mind the Company only formed in 2015, it has made a remarkable impression on the regional health insurance industry during its short existence and looks set to continue making strides in years to come.

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MINING

INVESTMENT

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The foremost mining investment forum in the UK Event Details WHEN: 22-23 November WHERE: London, UK WEBSITE: www.mininginvestmentlondon.com

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MINING INVESTMENT LONDON is a strategic mining conference and exhibition for the leaders of the mining, quarrying and construction materials industries. For the second edition, it is expected to bring together 200 attendees from 20 countries. Ministers, mining companies, investors and service providers travel from all over Europe, Asia, Africa, North America and Middle East for two days of partnering, networking and business matching in London. As one of the world’s leading financial hubs, London is the ideal location to attract mining companies, investors and their partners from across the entire region. At the conference, various topics such as key issues disrupting and innovating the mining sector, insights

on the mining landscape, mining finance and business strategies will be discussed. Mining Investment London will bring in top notch business thought leaders to share their insights with the delegates. The conference will also provide plenty of networking opportunities through roundtable discussions and a cocktail drinks reception. Besides the conference, the exhibition also provides a great opportunity for mining technology, equipment and services companies, miners and governments to expand connections, launch new products and forge new business partnerships. With key European and global buyers and industry leaders conveniently located under one roof, it is also an excellent branding platform for mining companies and service providers to profile themselves to their target audience. Special rates are available for advanced registration and more information on Mining Investment London, as well as registration details, can be found at www. mininginvestmentlondon.com. Mining Investment London is organised by Spire Events (Singapore) and is part of the global Mining Investment Series that has successfully spanned across Asia, Africa, Middle East, Latin America and Europe. More details on the latest global Mining Investment conferences can be found at www.spire-events.com.

2ND ANNUAL

22 - 23 NOVEMBER 2018

LONDON

London, United Kingdom

Where Miners, Investors and Service Providers Converge

SNAPSHOT OF SPEAKERS HENRY SANDERSON

Commodities Correspondent Financial Times

JAMES PURDIE

Head of Investor Relations Arion Investment Management Limited, UK

DANIEL MAJOR CEO GoviEx Uranium, UK

Take Advantage of our Special Offer to Attend and Exhibit Today! Contact Vishal at +65 6717 6019 or vishal.sengupta@spire-events.com Spotlight Sponsors

Mining Investment Events

Mining Investment

Mining Investment Conferences

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SPIRE EVENTS

EUROPEAN

BASE

OILS

LUBRICANTS

E V E N T

INTERACTIVE

SUMMIT

F O C U S

Driving industry collaboration through networking and discussion The 2018 Summit will feature:

• 200-plus attendees and 15-plus exhibitors. • Pre-event networking drinks reception sponsored by Lubrizol. • The Lubrizol OEM Seminar: OEMs Challenges 2030 and beyond – with so many exciting challenges ahead, why not join Lubrizol for this much-awaited original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) seminar, where key OEMs from both the commercial vehicle and passenger car business areas will provide their insights into these areas, and provide strategies to address them. • Site visit – ENI Refinery – Livorno.

EUROPEAN BASE OILS & LUBRICANTS INTERACTIVE SUMMIT

Event Details WHEN: 28-29 November WHERE: Florence, Italy WEBSITE: www.wplgroup.com/aci/event/baseoils-lubricants-summit

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FOLLOWING THE POSITIVE reception to last year’s new interactive format, we are proud to bring you the enhanced 2018 European Base Oils & Lubricants Interactive Summit. We have learned a great deal from the industry over the last 10 years about the direction our event needs to take in order to provide you with even more valuable insights and networking opportunities.

• Parallel streams dedicated to industrial lubricants and automotive lubricants allowing delegates to have in-depth discussions with like-minded peers. • Structured networking activities: Meet and greet, blackout bingo, speed networking, carpet bowls, social lotto and business card contest. • Interactive format with on-stage interviews, panel discussions, in-conversation and lunch round tables. The summit will ensure that delegates receive content in a way that is engaging and interactive, that also allows for everyone to be part of the wider conversation. With our jam-packed agenda featuring over 40 of the most soughtafter industry speakers, the European Base Oils & Lubricants Interactive Summit is shaping up to be an event not to be missed.

MIDDLE

EAST

H E A LT H C A R E

E V E N T

TECHNOLOGY

2018

F O C U S

Propelling Saudi Arabia into the digital healthcare age

Event Details WHEN: 4-5 March, 2019 WHERE: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia WEBSITE: www.bricsaconsulting.com/event/ middle-east-healthcare-technology

BRICSA CONSULTING IS set to launch its annual event Middle East Healthcare & Technology 2018, a two-day strategic business conference scheduled to take place on December 17-18 at Sheraton Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. This conference is set to provide a platform for the healthcare developers, manufacturers, hospital developers, owners, government bodies, officials, authorities, healthcare solution providers to collaborate and implement the foundation for growth and development in the healthcare sector in the GCC region. The focus of the conference will be covering the following topics: • Acquaintance with the latest regional hospital projects in the GCC Region.

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• Conceptualisation of the opportunities of moving towards privatisation with a stated objective in the Kingdom’s NTP of providing affordable and effective healthcare services and facilities. • Advancements in thriving imaging equipment to improving costeffective disposables, and from developments in surgery to advances in prosthetics. • Digital healthcare innovations under the vision 2030 plan aiming for 70plus percent of Saudi citizens to have unified digital records by 2020. • Hospital development insights on market outlook, investment opportunities and cutting-edge products and services in the healthcare sector.

04th - 05th March, 2019 Sheraton Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Highlights of the Conference • Kingdom’s National Transformation Plan (NTP) and healthcare goals • To recognize the future of Healthcare in Saudi Arabia • Inception of Technological Innovations in medical devices • Application of Blockchain in Healthcare

MEDIA PARTNER

For further details contact adnan@bricsaconsulting.com www.bricsaconsulting.com

EXPLORATION

AND

PRODUCTION

E V E N T

OFFSHORE

WHEN: 3-4 December WHERE: Thessaloniki, Greece WEBSITE: www.oilepoch.com

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HUB

2018

F O C U S

A forum for innovation in offshore oil & gas

Event Details

CONGRESS

DURING THE LAST few years the oil & gas sector had a difficult time surviving in a harsh low-price environment. Fortunately, the industry future appears brighter and oil prices seem to remain stable. How to adapt offshore active companies’ business models to the period of recovery and the main predictions for the upcoming decade – we’ll discuss it with Petroleb and TechnipFMC at the ‘Forecast and Drivers in Setting Oil Price’ session. In the meantime, the world is increasingly looking towards new regions of opportunities, in particular West Africa and the Mediterranean. With their rich resources in subsea oil & gas, they are rated as a promising markets for the entire offshore

value chain. That is why the plenary sessions are dedicated to the overview of offshore E&P sector in the Mediterranean and West Africa as emerging markets for offshore oil & gas. The next edition of EPOCH, a closeddoor upstream event, co-hosted with Hellenic Petroleum, is aimed at experts in offshore oil & gas sectors. It gathers the whole upstream value chain: E&P Companies, EPC contractors, drilling contractors, service providers and equipment manufacturers in one place. You will be able to talk one-toone with Hellenic Petroleum, BP and Schlumberger as well as with governmental bodies like the European Commission, National Agency of Natural Resources of Albania and others. EPOCH 2018 addresses commercial aspects of the upstream offshore sector and focuses on the cuttingedge technical and IT solutions for exploration and production.

CS4CA

MENA

2019

E V E N T

F O C U S

Cyber Security for Critical Assets Summit arrives in Dubai Event Details WHEN: 21-22 January 2019 WHERE: Dubai, UAE WEBSITE: www.cs4ca.com/mena

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CS4CA MENA, THE 13th in a successful series of global Cyber Security for Critical Assets Summits, is going to Dubai on January 21-22, 2019, to focus on the Middle East and Northern African Regions. This is a content-driven platform where MENA’s businesses can expect to learn, discuss and assess the practical steps needed to achieve cyber resilience. This summit’s agenda is catered for senior professionals from the oil & gas, utilities, nuclear, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, aviation, and maritime industries, as well as cyber security solutions providers.

Key solutions-oriented topics will be addressed by thought-leaders from the likes of Saudi Aramco, Kaspersky Lab, GE, PwC, and the Government of Saudi Arabia. Topics to be covered include: risk mitigation for safety systems, managing security in a hybrid IT/OT environment, and creating a cohesive regulatory framework for the region’s critical infrastructure. Secure your discount using the code EME25 on your two-day conference pass, inclusive of seated lunches and five-plus hours of networking. Details at: www.cs4ca.com/mena

SAUDI

ARABIA

RENEWABLE

ENERGY

E V E N T

SOLAR

WIND

2019

F O C U S Saudi Arabia has an impressive natural potential for solar and wind power, and the local energy consumption will increase threefold by 2030 – the country still lacks a competitive renewable energy sector at present. In the wake of these events, Bricsa Consulting has developed this agenda to bring renewable energy sector leaders across the globe under one roof and discuss various facets. The Kingdom aims to review the legal and regulatory framework that allows the private sector to purchase and invest in the renewable energy sector. It also focuses to localise the energy industry and produce the necessary skill-sets for local resource development; they will also encourage public-private partnerships (PPP). Highlights of the conference:

Opening up KSA to the power of renewables

Event Details WHEN: 22-23 January 2019 WHERE: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia WEBSITE: https://bricsaconsulting.com/event/ saudi-arabia-renewable-energy/

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SAUDI ARABIA RENEWABLE Energy - Solar & Wind 2019 is a two-day conference that is being hosted on 22-23 January, 2019 at Rosh Rayhaan by Rotana in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This conference focuses on the future of renewable energy in Saudi Arabia with further discussions about technological enhancements, NEOM City, Oman’s Miraah Project, Masdar Initiative, prospective development sites, electric vehicle markets, and Dubai Clean Strategy 2050. It also discusses the potential for growth of the Kingdom in regard to reducing carbon footprints. It is a platform to discuss and debate best practices which can be instrumental in maximising the power sourcing in the region.

• National Renewable Energy Plan (NREP). • NEOM - mega city powered by renewable energy. • The Masdar Initiative - pioneering renewable energy in Middle East. • Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 – transforming Dubai as a city with the lowest carbon foot print in the world. • To recognise the future of renewable energy in Saudi Arabia. • To get a better understanding of the opportunities of PPP offered by NREP. • Inception of Masdar initiative and Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Project – the largest single-site solar park in the world. To receive further details kindly send an email to aditi@bricsaconsulting.com or contact Ms. Aditi Jain on: +91 22 4880 3419.

JOIN US TO GET THE LATEST UPDATE OF MIDDLE EAST ENERGY WORLD AT SAUDI ARABIA RENEWABLE ENERGY - SOLAR WIND 2019

22nd - 23rd January, 2019 Rosh Rayhaan by Rotana - Riyadh Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE CONFERENCE • National Renewable Energy Plan (NREP). – Mix Renewable Energy – Wind & solar • NEOM - Mega City Powered by Renewable Energy. - renewable energy mega city • The Masdar Initiative - Pioneering renewable energy in Middle East. - Wind • Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 - UAE towards transforming Dubai as a city with the least carbon foot print in the world. - renewable energy mega city • To recognize the future of Renewable Energy in Saudi Arabia. - Mix Renewable Energy – Wind & solar • To get a better understanding of the opportunities of PPP oﬀered by NREP. - PPP • Inception of Masdar initiative and Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Project - Largest single-site Solar Park in the world. - Solar

For inquiries contact aditi@bricsaconsulting.com | bricsaconsulting.com

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